




r- 






THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT : 



AN ACCOUNT 



$aMm*t llMite 



PERFORMED BT THE 



115TH REGIMEKT N. Y. VOLS. 



ALSO 

A LIST OP THE DEAD AND WOUNDED ; AN ACCOUNT OP HUNDREDS OF BRAVS 

MEN SHOT ON A SCORE OF HARD FOUGHT FIELDS OF STRIFE ; A 

COMPLETE STATEMENT OF HARPER S FERRY SURRENDER ; 

SKETCHES OF THE OFFICERS ; A HISTORY OF THE 

FLAGS AND THOSE WHO BORE THEM, 

TOGETHER WITH 



Touching Incidents, Thrilling Adventures, Amusing Scenes, 
etc., etc., etc. 



BY JAMES H. CLARK, 

\&gt; 

LATE FIRST LIEUTENANT, COMPANY H, 115TH N. Y. V. 



ALBANY, N. Y.: 

J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 
1865. 



E 



. S 
\ \ 5 



TO THE 

WIDOWS, CHILDREN, FATHERS, MOTHERS, BROTHERS, SISTERS 
FRIENDS, AND SURVIVING COMRADES OF 

THE BRAVE MSN 

WHO LEFT THE PLEASURES AND COMPORTS OF HOME, 

&lt;E:nliste in tlje 11511} fUgiment, 

AND HAVE GONE DOWN TO UNTIMELY GEAVES WHILE 
SERVING THEIR COUNTRY, 

THIS VOLUME IS MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 



They sleep in southern soil." 



M152561 



PEEFAGE. 

The object of this volume is to preserve, in 
book form, the leading incidents connected with 
the distinguished services rendered to our 
country by the 115th Regiment, and to show 
to its friends and the world at large, what a 
variety of peculiar sacrifices and sufferings it 
endured. 

The author aims to give plain facts and accu 
rate statements, yet it would not be strange if 
there were errors, considering the multitude of 
dates and names, and the rough way in which 
it is sometimes necessary to keep a journal in 
the field. 

To many members of the regiment I am 
greatly indebted for valuable information re 
ceived, and for the great interest they have 

taken in this work. 

THE AUTHOR. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

Formation of the Regiment, 1 

Off for the War, 2 

From New York to Philadelphia, 2 

Off for Baltimore, 3 

Active Service, 4 

The Shenandoah Guerrillas, 5 

On the March. A pure Rebel City 6 

Pitching Camp, 7 

Searching Rebel Houses, 7 

The First Man Shot in the Regiment, 10 

A busy Sunday, 10 

A Foraging Expedition, ? 10 

The Rebels Advance upon us in Force, 11 

CHAPTER II. 

Battle of Maryland Heights, 12 

The Evacuation of the Heights, 12 

The Loss of the 115th, 13 

The 126th New York, 13 

Lieutenant Ferguson, 13 

Peace or Blood. The Stars and Bars, 14 

Battle of Harper s Ferry, 15 

Forming Line of Battle, 15 

A Shower of Rebel Shells, 16 

Our Ammunition Exhausted, 16 

The Rebels charge a Battery. Terrible Slaughter among 

the Foe, 17 

A Night Attack, 17 

Sigel is Coming, 18 

The Situation a Gloomy One, 19 

Keep your Powder Dry, 19 



viii CONTENTS. 

The Union Army Surrendered, 20 

An Affecting Scene, 20 

Cowardly Shooting, 21 

Death of Gen. Miles, 22 

The Captures, 22 

Rebel Horse Thieves, 23 

The Terms of Capitulation, 24 

The Dear old Flag Preserved, 24 

The First man Killed in the Regiment, 25 

Sleeping with Rebels, 25 

Troops Paroled, 25 

A Hundred Mile March, 26 

True to the Last, 26 

Scenes at Frederick City, 27 

A Soldier Murdered in the Woods, 29 

Journal, 31 

Annapolis City 32 

Ho ! for Baltimore, 33 

Through Pennsylvania, 34 

Pittsburg, 35 

Through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 36 

" I ll Kill every Mother s Son of Ye," 37 

Camped in Horse Stalls, 38 

Sickness and Death, 38 

Hard Times, , . 38 

Mutiny, Riot, and Arson, 39 

A sad Conflagration, 40 

Good bye Chicago, 41 

Baltimore Again, 41 

A cold Night on Arlington Heights, 42 

Sixteen Days on Arlington, 43 

A hard March to Hunter s Creek, 44 

Thirteen Days at Hunter s Creek, 45 

To Yorktown Va., 45 

Yorktown and the Surrounding Country, 46 

Where are we Going, 51 

The Matanzas Dungeon, 52 

The Pangs of Hunger, 52 

On Sunday, 53 



CONTENTS. ix 

CHAPTER III. 

Port Royal Harbor, 54 

Sad Tidings. Good News, 54 

A Chapter on Snakes, 56 

Insects and Reptiles, 58 

Yankee Enterprise. Hilton Head, 59 

Night Assault, 60 

Duty at Hilton Head, 61 

Scenes in the Provost Quarters. Captain Gladding, 61 

Stories of Refugees, 62 

" We all Yankee Now," 64 

The Bravest of the Brave, 64 

Rebel Mode of Procuring Greenbacks, 65 

Large Mortality in the Regiment, 67 

Beaufort, 68 

Journal, 68 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Campaign in Florida, 70 

Midnight Attack on Camp Finnegan, 71 

Surprise and Capture of Baldwin, 78 

Sentenced to Death for Firing off a Gun, . 74 

A bold Rebel Spy, 75 

Our Advance fall in an Ambuscade at Barber s Plantation, . 75 

A Giant Rebel, 77 

The Town of Sanderson Taken, 77 

Single Encounters in the Woods, 78 

A March of Seventy Miles through Florida Swamps, 79 

The Battle of Olustee, 80 

Regiments Engaged on the Union Side, 81 

Regiments Engaged on the Rebel Side, 81 

How the Battle came About, 82 

Where the Battle was Fought, 82 

How the Contending Armies w r ere Formed, 82 

Gallantry of the 115th, 83 

The Rebels Charge the Regiment, 84 

Great Slaughter among Artillery, 84 

A Bayonet Charge, 85 



x CONTENTS. 

The Regiment saves the Army from Capture, 86 

General Seymour, 87 

Terrible Suffering among the Wounded, 88 

Comments of the Union Press, DO 

Rebel Account, 02 

Arrival of the Wounded at Beaufort, 03 

Gen. Seymour to the Army, 1)4 

Co. H on a Scout, 05 

Journal, 101 

CHAPTER V. 

Battle of Chesterfield Heights, 105 

Fearful Slaughter, 107 

Incidents of the Battle, 108 

Battle of Old Church 109 

The Woods on Fire, 110 

Battle of Weir Bottom Church, Ill 

More Fighting, Ill 

Battle of Drury s Bluff, 113 

Mixed up with a Rebel Regiment, 113 

The Boys Charge on their own Hooks, 113 

Sunday at Drury s Bluff, 115 

Battle of Proctor s Creek, 116 

Incidents of the Battle, 117 

Fight at Port Walthall Junction, 118 

The Rebels Charge. Deserters and Prisoners, 120 

Union and Rebel Charges, 120 

The 115th Selected to Storm a Battery, 121 

Battle of Coal Harbor, 124 

CHAPTER VI. 

Siege of the Chickahominy, 128 

A new Base, 134 

A Day of Suffering 135 

Siege and Battles of Petersburg 137 

An Order that brought Death very Close, 138 

Freaks of Solid Shot, 143 

Charge of Cemetery Hill, 145 



CONTENTS. xi 

The Morning of Battle, 145 

The Earth Quakes, 146 

The First Assault, 147 

The 115th go Forward, 147 

A Colored Division, 148 

Our Gallant General, 148 

The 115th Led the Charge, 149 

The Sleeping Regiment, 150 

Thrilling Scenes on the Field, 150 

The Rebels Charge with Success, 151 

The Terrible Cry for Water, 152 

The Dead and the Dying, 153 

Closing Scenes of the Battle, &gt; 154 

CHAPTER VII. 

Large Loss of Life, 156 

On Picket at Bermuda Hundreds, 157 

Battle of Deep Bottom, 158 

Battle of Fort Gilmer, 160 

Battle of Darbytown Road, 161 

The two Attacks on Fort Fisher, 162 

Dreadful Catastrophe, 164 

The Closing Campaign of the War, 167 

Homeward Bound, 168 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Martyrs of the 115th, . 170 

CHAPTER IX. 

Those who Lost a Limb and Lived, 220, 

The Heroes who Bore our Flags, 222. 

The Flags, 231 

Battles and Skirmishes, 232 

Officers of the 115th, 233 

Enlisted Men Commissioned and not Mustered, 270. 

CHAPTER X. 

Promotions, . .. 275 



xii CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XL 

The Roll of Honor. Casualties in the 115th, 276 

Additional Casualties in the Regiment as Reported by the 

Press, 299 

Wounded at Fort Gilmer, 299 

Wounded at Fort Fisher, 299 

The Companies, 299 

Non-commissioned Staff, &c., 301 

115th Brass Band, 301 

Drum Corps, 301 

CHAPTER XII. 

Arrival of the 115th in New York, 302 

Arrival of the 115th in Albany, 304 

Return of the 115th N. Y. Regiment, 307 

Sword Presentation at Clifton Park, 312 

Battle of Proctor s Creek, 314 

Capture of Fort Fisher, 317 

Official Dispatches, 317 

Report of Admiral Porter, 322 

Compliments to Worthy Officers, 326 

A Skirmish at Pilatka, Florida, 326 

The Fearless Sharpshooter, 327 

A Plucky Soldier Boy, 330 

Rather Cool, 331 

Statements of Prisoners, 332 

Chesapeake U. S. Hospital, 336 



CHAPTEE I. 

FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT. 

The 115th Eegiment, New York State Volun 
teers, was recruited principally in the counties of 
Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton, and Hamilton, dur 
ing the months of July and August, 1862 ; and 
while organizing, were quartered at Camp Fonda, a 
short distance from the village of Fonda, Montgo 
mery County. Such was the patriotism then pre 
vailing in the district, that in forty days from the 
time the first enlistment was made, the ranks were 
full and the regiment ready to take the field. 

The officers and men were mostly young, of a 
superior class, and came from every profession and 
trade. They threw down the scythe, the cradle, 
and the rake, left the workshop, the store, the 
school, and the sacred desk, to battle for the liber 
ties of our beloved land. The day of large bounties 
had not dawned. The most of those who enlisted 
did so from motives of the purest patriotism. All 
left the comforts and the endearments of home, and 
severed almost every valued earthly tie, fr the pur 
pose of protecting the starry flag. 

The ladies of the district presented the regiment 
with two costly flags. The officers and men silently 
vowed their determination to protect those flags, 
1 



t \ 
2 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

and promised never to allow their glory to be 
polluted with the touch of traitors. They fulfilled 
those solemn declarations. 

OFF FOR THE WAR. 

On the 29th day of August, 1862, the 115th Regi 
ment, New York State Volunteers, broke camp at 
Fonda and left for the seat of war. 

On the morning of departure, the ladies presented 
to the brave soldier boys untold numbers of beauti 
ful bouquets ; and from every window in town white 
handkerchiefs waved, while the streets were alive 
with people who came to bid us farewell. 

We left in a train of first-class passenger cars, at 
11 o clock A. M., reaching Albany at 2 o clock p. M., 
where we partook of dinner at the Delavan House. 

At Amsterdam, the friends of the regiment filled 
all the space around the depot, blocked up the track, 
and when the cars moved off deafening cheers went 
up from the crowded mass of people. 

We crossed the ferry at Albany to Greenbush, 
where all hands were packed aboard of emigrant 
cars, and hurried with lightning speed through the 
beautiful valley of the Hudson. 

New York City was gained at 2 o clock on 
the morning of the 30th, and the regiment imme 
diately marched to the Park Barracks, and bunked 
upon the floor until daylight. 

We considered it rather a hard bed. 

FROM NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 

On Saturday, August 30th, at 7 o clock p. M., the 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 3 

regiment embarked on a transport for Amboy, New 
Jersey. 

It was our first experience on such a boat and 
almost all of the men lay on deck to enjoy the cool, 
bracing, sea air. Four hours brought us safely to 
Amboy, and there we took rickety emigrant cars 
for Philadelphia, a distance of eighty-nine miles 
from New York. 

Sunday, August 31. We marched into the Qua 
ker City at daylight, the Cayadutta Cornet Band 
playing the " Star Spangled Banner." A halt was 
made at the Soldiers Retreat where a free breakfast 
was waiting for the regiment. 

All ate heartily of the abundance furnished, and 
in conclusion, gave cheers for thanks. 

OFF FOR BALTIMORE. 

At Philadelphia we were loaded on freight cars, 
and started for Baltimore, one hundred and fifteen 
miles distant. The day was delightful, and all 
nature seemed wreathed in her sweetest smiles. 

At nearly every house in Delaware which we 
passed, the people would run out, and display the 
stars and stripes. 

At "Wilmington the whole population turned out 
to greet us, and to bid us " God speed." We reached 
Baltimore, the monumental city, at 4 o clock, p. M., 
arid were agreeably surprised to find her covered 
with flags. 

The regiment paraded through the principal 
streets, and received a general ovation. 



4 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

12,000 new troops passed through the city during 
the day ; nearly all of them from New York. 

At night we took freight cars on the Baltimore 
and Ohio R. R., and were all night going forty 
miles. 

Bands of guerrillas were hovering around, and 
threatened to throw the train from the track. 

ACTIVE SERVICE. 

Monday, September 1, 1862. This morning we 
reached Sandy Hook, Maryland, and were immedi 
ately armed and equipped for service. 

A few rebel scouts were observed sneaking around 
Point of Rocks, probably watching our movements. 

In the afternoon the regiment was divided up, 
and ordered to guard the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. 

Companies Gr and II went to Summit Bridge, two 
companies to Peckham s Bridge, and the remaining 
six companies took up quarters in the city of 
Charlestown. 

Our detachment reached Summit Point, at mid 
night, and relieved two companies of the 27th New 
York. 

Tuesday, September 2. We threw out a picket 
for the first time. All of us began to feel very 
hungry. The planters pretended to be Union men, 
but refused to sell us anything because they said 
we were d d Yankees. At last some colored peo 
ple were found, who contracted to bake 100 hoe 
cakes for the men. They baked them in pots and 
on griddles. Lieutenant Barlow spread on the but- 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 5 

ter, and I carried them out to the men, waiting at 
the door of the hut. 

At midnight the Union troops abandoned Win 
chester, and blew up the forts. We were 8 miles 
away, but felt the earth vibrate, and saw the lurid 
flames and thick black smoke curling through the 
air. It was a grand and impressive sight. 

At 12 o clock our cavalry (the bloody 8th 
ET. Y.) dashed down the road with a clatter that 
made the hair on our heads stand. Being roused 
up from a deep sleep, and rather green withal, 
we thought that the legions of Jeff. Davis were 
close at hand. 

"Fall in company II!" thundered the command 
ing officer. We managed to get into line in the 
course of time ; but the worst of it all was, that 
we had to remain there until 9 o clock the next 
morning. 

The rebels did not come, and we thanked our 
stars that they did not, for we had but three rounds 
of ammunition each, and there was no supply nearer 
than the city of Charlestown. 

THE SHENANDOAH GUERRILLAS. 

The beautiful and rich valley of the Shenandoah 
used to swarm with a class of men, who were good 
Union farmers in the day-time, andbloody guerrillas 
at night. They would prowl over the country, 
murdering lone Union pickets, destroying the pro 
perty of loyal citizens, and killing defenseless people 
without mercy. They were loyal when surrounded 



6 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

by northern bayonets, but would stab you to the 
heart at every opportunity. 

Some of their deeds would horrify the hardest 
heart, and chill the warmest blood. Yet they were 
done in the name of the Confederate States of 
America ! 

ON THE MARCH. A PURE REBEL CITY. 

Early on the morning of September 3d, 3,000 of 
our troops reached Summit Point, from "Winches 
ter. They were black with dust and smoke, and 
looked like old veterans in earnest. We received 
orders to fall back to Harper s Ferry, and at 10 
o clock A. M., the column moved off at a rapid rate. 

At two o clock P. M., the city of Charlestown was 
reached, and we immediately marched to the Court 
House yard, where a lunch of bread, pork, and 
hot coffee was waiting. 

We looked with a great deal of interest at the 
building where John Brown was tried and condemn 
ed to death. "We found Charlestown to be a regular 
hot-bed of secession. The people had their houses 
all closed, to show their detestation of the Yan 
kees. 

Not a person was to be seen in the street, although 
crowds of women and children swarmed at every 
window. They were as silent as the grave ; and as 
the Union troops marched proudly and steadily 
through the streets, and the bands of music played 
national pieces, their countenances bore a sad 
look. All their fathers, sons, and brothers were in 
the rebel army. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 7 

At sundown we halted at Bolivar Heights, near 
Harper s Ferry, and passed the night on the cold 
ground, with only the starry canopy of Heaven for 
a covering. 

The 126th Regiment, New York Volunteers, pre 
sented us with warm coffee for the whole regiment, 
and had the kindness to deal it out to the men be 
sides. 

Never was a more needful and acceptable gift 
received. 

PITCHING CAMP. 

On the 4th day of September, we pitched tents 
for the first time ; and, of course, made rather 
awkward work of it. 

The 39th New York and 9th Vermont were 
camped on the right of us. 

SEARCHING REBEL HOUSES. 

There was a house situated on a hill, a short 
distance from our camp, where on several occasions 
rockets were thrown up and signal lights exhibited, 
so that the rebels could see them. 

Valuable information was, I doubt not, conveyed 
to the rebel generals in that way. 

On Friday, September 5th, Company H was 
ordered to proceed to the house, and search it for 
a quantity of arms supposed to have been concealed 
there. The company proceeded to a point near 
by, when Lieutenant B selected 25 men to per 
form the work, and left the remainder as a reserve, 



8 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

to act, in case we encountered superior numbers of 
the enemy. 

Shortly before reaching the house, several men 
dressed in gray were observed skulking around ; 
but by the time we reached the place they were 
nowhere to be found. 

Arriving in front of the door the squad was halted, 
and the lieutenant addressed the lady of the man 
sion who was standing in the front yard, as follows: 

" Madam, I see you have your doors locked. I 
have an order to search your house, and the order 
must be obeyed. Give me the keys, and you will 
save us the trouble of breaking open the doors. 
My men shall not harm you, or touch as much as 
an apple without your permission." 

Seeing that there was no alternative she handed 
over the keys, and after placing sentinels a short 
distance off to prevent surprise, the work of search 
began. Bureaus, beds and drawers, were thorough 
ly searched, but no arms found. 

At last, we came across a low door in the upper 
story ; and upon opening it, found a long, dark 
passage, reaching the whole length of the house. 

Being satisfied that there were no Rebs inside, 
we proceeded to explore ; and soon got hold of 
something, and upon bringing it out to daylight 
found it to be an U. S. wall tent; marked "2d Cal. 
Vols." 

Soon another of the same kind came to view. 
Three fancy Virginia rifles, nicely hidden away, were 
also discovered and taken possession of. A quan- 



THE IRON HEARTED BEGIMENT. , 9 

tity of bayonets and bayonet scabbards, large num 
bers of shirts, drawers, and pants, with Uncle Sam s 
mark on, together with two thousand pounds of 
bacon, were hauled out of the darkness. The barn 
was also thoroughly searched, and the boys ran 
their bayonets full length into the hay, by way of 
feeling for secreted rebels. 

Several barrels of cider stood in an orchard close 
by the house, and the men were awful thirsty, but 
were afraid to drink, for fear that the cider had been 
poisoned. Seeing a young darkey, one of the boys 
asked him if that cider was poisoned? " No Sab," 
promptly answered Sambo. " Well, then drink 
some," continued the soldier, handing him a cup 
full of it. 

The colored individual soon drained it to the 
dregs, and handed back the empty cup with a 
"thank you, sah." 

Being satisfied with the experiment, the whole 
party drank heartily. 

Before we left, several ladies had congregated on 
the spot, and some of them turned up their noses 
and threw back their heads, to show their disgust 
to "blue coats;" and one of the fair rebels called us 
such names as, "mean Yankees," "cut throats," 
"mud-sills," &c. We listened very attentively, but 
preserved our peace, and soon left them " alone in 
their glory " and anger. 

A day or two afterward, several of our pickets 
were murdered on their posts, and the inmates of 
that house were the guilty parties. 



10 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

The Union troops riddled it so completely with 
bullets, that every pane of glass was smashed, and 
every clapboard pierced with holes. 

Other companies of the regiment searched other 
houses, at the same time. 

THE FIRST MAN SHOT IN THE REGIMENT. 

John Hubbard, of Company A, was the first man 
shot in the regiment, by the enemy. He was on 
picket, w r hen a guerrilla stole up to him and fired, 
the ball passing through the leg, causing amputa 
tion. 

It was a cowardly shot, only worthy of a traitor. 

A BUSY StJNDAY. 

On Sunday, September 7, the 60th Ohio and the 
115th, chopped down twenty acres of trees to pre 
vent tliQ rebel cavalry from dashing in upon us. 

Chaplain Clemens preached to us in the afternoon, 
and in the evening, a large prayer meeting was held 
in the open air. 

A FORAGING EXPEDITION. 

On the 8th of September, Company H, and a 
detachment of other troops, accompanied by a large 
number of wagons, marched several miles to a splen 
did plantation owned by a Colonel Washington, an 
officer in the rebel army. They confiscated three 
hundred tons of hay in the name of Uncle Sam. 

The day was burning hot; not a breath of air 
was stirring, and thick clouds of dust settled over 
the marching column, so that all of us suffered con- 



THE IKON HEARTED REGIMENT. 11 

siderably, and some to the extent of sun-stroke. 
However, we made out to live through it. 

A rebel spy was captured on the road, and, of 
course, he pretended to be a good Union man, and 
claimed to be a member of an Ohio regiment. But 
that did not save him from being delivered over to 
the provost marshal. 

THE REBELS ADVANCE UPON US IN FORCE. 

On Friday, September 12th, the rebels appeared 
near Maryland Heights in large force- Companies 
A, E, and K, of our regiment, were sent to the 
Heights to aid in checking the advance of A. P. 
Hill s rebel corps. 



CHAPTER H. 

BATTLE OF MARYLAND HEIGHTS. 

On Saturday, September 13th, a severe engage- 
incut was fought on Maryland Heights, in which 
the three companies of the 115th took a prominent 
part, and did severe execution. They occupied 
some slight breast-works, and the rebels made three 
distinct charges to drive them out, and were three 
times gallantly repulsed. 

The fight now became brisk, and the rattle of 
musketry was incessant. 

The remainder of the 115th with other troops 
were now ordered to the heights as reinforcements, 
and the rebels were repulsed at every point. 

THE EVACtlATION OF THE HEIGHTS. 

This took place on the eve of success. The Union 
troops could have held the place against almost any 
force that could be brought against it, but were 
ordered away, and the fate of the army sealed. 

As the Union troops were marching down the 
steep sides of the mountain, and the flashing of 
bayonets lit up the scene, I was lying on Bolivar 
Heights suffering from the effects of poison eaten 
in rebel cake. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 13 

Just then, General Miles and staff rode up, and 
were looking very attentively toward the scene of 
conflict. Suddenly, the General started as though 
thunderstruck, and exclaimed : " They are all aban 
doning the heights !" and he dashed down the hill 
like a madman, to learn the cause. 

THE LOSS OF THE 115 IH 

was not large. Captain William Smith, of Com 
pany K, was severely wounded through the leg, and 
subsequently had to be left in the hands of the 
enemy. 

Sergeant Stephen Moms, of Company A, was 
hurt in the scalp ; and when he fell blinded with 
blood he told the boys to u Give it to them." Sev 
eral others were more or less injured. 

THE 126TH NEW YORK. 

This regiment was engaged and was cut up con 
siderably. The colonel was shot through the mouth 
and was borne from the field covered with blood. 
A large number of severely wounded were carried 
four miles from the battle field, by Company A of 
our regiment. 

LIEUTENANT FERGUSON 

fought like a tiger. He seized a gun, and standing 
upon the top of the breastworks blazed away at the 
rebels. 

He was like a host himself, and his company 
fought and repulsed five times their own numbers. 
2 



14 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

A rebel sharp-shooter took deliberate aim at him 
seven times, but failed to bring him down. 

A veteran officer rode up, just as the lieutenant s 
company had received and returned a severe volley, 
and said : " Lieutenant, I guess that your company 
have smelled powder before." 

" No sir," he replied, " my men have never be 
fore been under fire." 

They fired so deliberately, and took matters so 
coolly, that the strange officer thought it impossible 
that it could be their first fight. 

PEACE OR BLOOD THE STARS AND BARS. 

Rebel camp-fires were burning for miles around, 
and they waved white flags from all the surround 
ing hills to make us believe that they were planting 
batteries in those localities. Some believed it, and 
the artillery shelled the flags furiously, while the 
cunning rebels were leisurely building their bat 
teries in places where our missiles did not reach. At 
one time, they flung out red and white flags, which 
they afterwards informed us meant "peace or 
blood." 

During the day, a column of rebels marched up 
the road from Charlestown with the " stars and 
bars" flying at their head. 

Rigsby s battery of flying artillery thundered 
down the road and opened on them at short range, 
when the "stars and bars" disappeared in the 
woods. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 15 

At night, all firing ceased, and the stillness of 
death reigned along the lines until morning. 

BATTLE OF HARPER S FERRY. 

On Friday, September 14th, the battle of Harper s 
Ferry began. At 8 o clock A. M., all of our artillery 
opened on the rebels, and at 2 o clock P. M., fourteen 
of their batteries replied with compound interest. 

At first, their missiles of death fell far short of 
our camp; but each succeeding shell came nearer 
and nearer, until the earth was plowed up at our 
feet, and our tents torn to tatters. 

A shell struck among a group of brave, true, and 
noble men, and they lay on the cold ground, bleeding 
and mangled corpses. The purple tide of life flowed 
from their hearts, and the tints of their own life s 
blood crimsoned each pale cheek. 

FORMING LINE OF BATTLE. 

At 4 o clock P. M., we received orders to fall in 
line of battle in the rear of Bolivar Heights, along 
the edge of a piece of woods. The regiment was 
promptly on the march, and our beautiful flags were 
unfurled to the breeze. The red, white, and blue, 
floated proudly and defiantly above us, while artillery 
thundered, and shell after shell exploded around 
about us, above and among the marching column, yet 
strange to say, no man was hit. The ground was 
finally reached, arid a single line of battle formed of 
all the Union troops, the 115th holding the extreme 
right. 



16 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

A SHOWER OF REBEL SHELLS. 

The Union soldiers all lay flat on the ground to 
avoid the shells which the rebels were pouring in 
upon them. 

They would get a complete range of our line, and 
then concentrate the fire of all the batteries they 
had on a given point. In that way they made it 
too hot for any troops to stand ; so we were obliged 
to change our line very frequently, to save the men 
from slaughter. 

The infernal screech owls came hissing and sing 
ing, then bursting, plowing great holes in the earth, 
filling our eyes with dust, and tearing many giant 
trees to atoms. 

OUR AMMUNITION EXHAUSTED. 

All at once the Union artillery ceased firing, and 
the cry ran along from regiment to regiment, " the 
ammunition is all gone." The rebels observing 
that something was the matter among the "Yan 
kees," redoubled their fire, and soon made sad work 
among our artillery. Several powder magazines 
were blown up with a terrible crash, and almost 
all of the best guns were speedily dismounted. 

As soon as possible a detail of tailors were at 
work, making powder bags of government shirts and 
drawers, and what was yet serviceable of our artil 
lery, fought until the last. 



THE IRON HEARTED- EEGIMENT. IT 

THE REBELS CHARGE A BATTERY. TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER 
AMONG THE FOE. 

Hark ! what means that ringing cheer on the left? 
It is the Union boys, for we know their hearty 
yell. 

The rebels made a desperate bayonet charge on 
Bigsby s Indiana battery at dark, and were sent 
howling back to the woods. 

The gallant captain saw them stealing up, and 
quickly ordered the guns to be double shotted with 
grape and canister. He then mounted one of the 
pieces, and, with swinging sword cautioned his men 
not to fire until the whites of the rebels eyes could 
be seen. 

The command to fire was given and executed. 
The awful storm of iron swept like a dreadful tor 
nado through the enemy s ranks. When the smoke 
of battle lifted, swaths of rebel dead and wounded 
lay on the ground; while their comrades uninjured, 
were hurrying from the field of carnage. 

Our artillery had thundered the knell of death 
into the ears of scores of poor deluded rebels, and 
wrecked the forms and happiness of many more 
forever. The Union forces lost scarcely a man. 

A NIGHT ATTACK. 

All night the Union army lay on their arms, ex 
pecting each moment to engage in the shock of 
battle. The night was cold and damp, and each 
man shivered beneath his thin blanket. 

At 10 o clock, General Arthur s brigade of rebel 



18 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Tennessee troops advanced hi front of the 115th and 
lllth New York, with the hope of surprising them, 
and forcing the Union lines. 

The rebel general commanded his troops to 
move forward in a loud tone of voice, which, for 
tunately for us, was overheard by an officer, who 
immediately communicated the fact to the proper 
persons. The rebel column was advancing through 
the thick darkness with confidence, when suddenly, 
the lllth s~ew York and our left company opened 
fire, and immediately afterward the whole line was 
one stream of fire and poured forth a storm of bul 
lets. 

The result was, that the enemy were repulsed so 
severely that they were glad to retreat, and did not 
care to renew the assault. It was with the greatest 
difficulty that the officers prevailed upon the men 
to cease firing after the rebels had disappeared, for 
they were bent upon having a fight. 



SIGEL IS COMING 



At sunrise, Monday morning, September 15th, 
the rebel batteries opened upon us with redoubled 
fury. Very early, we heard the heavy booming of 
our guns at South Mountain, and it told us that the 
army of the Potomac was engaged with the enemy. 

The joyful news soon reached us, that Sigel with 
20,000 men was on the way to reinforce us. The 
distant thunder of cannon sounded nearer and 
nearer, the heavy volleys of musketry rolled sharper 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 19 

and sharper, until at last thousands caught up the 
cry of hope, " Sigel is coming ! Sigel is coming ! " 
But Sigel was not coming, and all hope of victory 
soon fled. 

THE SITUATION A GLOOMY ONE. 

Our guns were now all silenced. Rebel batteries 
frowned from every hill, five times our own num 
bers held every avenue of escape, and rebel bayonets 
confronted us on every side. Forage for horses" 
could not be had, and rations for the men were 
nearly all used up. 

The Union generalship was so bad that the enemy 
were allowed to occupy every strong position, and 
to hold every vital point. Maryland Heights, the 
key to Harper s Ferry was thrown open, and Lou- 
don Heights abandoned without a fight. 

The Union troops were on low ground, while the 
rebels held all the commanding positions. Treason 
or cowardice in high places had already placed us 
at the mercy of the foe, and it was now almost mad 
ness to resist. 

General Stonewall Jackson himself could not 
have arranged matters more favorably for the rebels 
than our own generals did. The men were willing 
and eager to fight, but were powerless to do good. 

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY. 

Early in the morning, General D Utassy rode 
along our line, encouraging the men to get ready 
for action, and ordered the regiment to fix bayonets. 



20 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

He spoke hopefully as he rode along from company 
to company, and cheer after cheer went up from 
the ranks. " Keep up coot courage, and keep your 
powder dry, mine fine fellows," said he, and then 
disappeared from view. 

THE UNION ARMY SURRENDERED. 

The rebels demanded the surrender of Harper s 
Ferry and the Union army ; and General Miles, the 
Benedict Arnold of modern days, complied with the 
demand without hesitation. General D Utassy was 
soon observed approaching again, but not with 
smiles playing on his lips as before. 

A dark cloud overshadowed his face, and he rode 
up to Colonel Sammons with streaming eyes, and 
said : 

"General Miles has surrendered de place, and 
you will blease march your regiment on de color 
line, and stack arms." 

AN AFFECTING SCENE. 

The cruel news spread with lightning speed 
throughout the whole army, and immediately one 
universal cry of indignation went up to heaven. 
It was like a dagger to every heart. Strong men 
wept like children, and thousands were in tears. 
A dark cloud of sorrow hung over all hearts, while 
tears and threats of vengeance against the traitor 
who sold us were mingled freely together. 

The 115th regiment was deeply moved, and for 
several moments after the startling tidings came, 
no man spake. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 21 

Lieutenant Ferguson clashed his sword to atoms 
against a stone, declaring that no rebels could ever 
pollute his blade. with their touch. 

Cavalrymen smashed their sabres systematically, 
infantrymen broke their guns over trees and stones, 
and the artillerymen begged on their knees for the 
privilege of spiking their pieces. 

Slowly and sadly the 115th marched back to 
the color line, and stacked arms. 

COWARDLY SHOOTING. 

Although we were prisoners of war, and the stars 
and bars and the white flag floated side by side in 
our front, it made no difference with the rebels, for 
they continued shelling us as hard as before. 

The regiment stood in solid rank at parade rest, 
and for nearly an hour they received the murderous 
and cowardly fire of the rebels, without flinching. 

Further shedding of blood was considered wicked 
and criminal ; so all of the officers did all in their 
power to put a stop to the murderous fire of the 
unprincipled foe. No one cared to be shot after he 
was a prisoner of war. 

Aaron Dillingham, of Company H, took off his 
white shirt and waved it with the hope of thus 
saving some precious lives. 

Chaplain Clemens mounted a work, and pro 
ceeded to display a white flag, but the enemy sent 
a shell after him for his pains, which must have cut 
him in two, did he not jump down. Finally, a 
prominent rebel general who was shocked at the 
inhumanity of the thing, succeeded in putting a 



22 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

stop to the fire ; but not however, until one of our 
brave boys had laid down his life. 

DEATH OF GENERAL MILES. 

Speedy vengeance fell upon the head of our 
traitor commander. General Miles, it is said, 
mounted a cannon, and proceeded to wave a white 
flag, as a token of submission, when a shower of 
shells and bullets fell around him. A piece of shell 
tore a limb from his body, and the wretched man 
dropped to the ground bathed in his own life s 
blood. His hair was snowy white, and the hot 
crimson tide covered his pale face, giving him a 
ghastly look. A staff oflicer wrapped the dying 
general in a common soldier s blanket, and bore him 
to the valley, where his candle of life went out with 
the setting of the sun. 

THE CAPTURES. 

The rebels of course took possession of nearly 
everything. They made haste to cart away our 
heavy guns, which I have no doubt they used 
against our brave men on some other field. The 
lousy and ragged troops of the Confederacy were 
clothed and shod at Uncle Sam s expense, and our 
stores satisfied their cravings of hunger. They tri 
umphantly took possession of 20 stand of colors, 
and 12,000 stand of arms, and looked upon an army 
of 12,000 men, who were treacherously sold into 
their hands. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 23 

REBEL HORSE THIEVES. 

After the surrender, it seemed as though the 
whole rebel army had suddenly turned into a great 
band of horse thieves. 

They swarmed in every camp, arid speedily swept 
away all horses. Every rebel strove to be mounted. 

An amusing scene occurred in front of the head 
quarters occupied by Colonel Sammons. The 
Colonel had a beautiful coal black horse standing 
in front of the tent, when a party of mounted 
rebels rode up, and proceeded to appropriate it to 
their own use. The Colonel soon saw what was 
going on, and stepping in front of the thieves, sud 
denly drew a revolver and cocked it. He then 
boldly informed them that he would put a bullet 
through the first man who attempted to carry oft* 
his horse. The rebels looked on in wonder and 
admiration at the pluck displayed, and seeing that 
the Colonel was in dead earnest, they quickly 
wheeled their horses and rode away, amid shouts 
from blue coats and gray backs alike. 

The same night they entered the stable and stole 
the horse. A fine black, owned by Lieutenant 
Colonel Batch elor was taken at the same time. In 
fact, all kinds of horse flesh were in great demand 
among the chivalry, and even old mules were not 
passed by. 



24 THE IRON HEARTED HEGIMENT. 

THE TERMS OF CAPITULATION 

were as follows: The troops to be paroled and 
not to take up arms against the Confederate States 
until exchanged. All the officers side arms and 
private property to he retained by the owners ; the 
men to be allowed knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, 
and all private property. 

All muskets to be stacked, and all war materials 
to be turned over. 

The rebel officers generally respected private 
property, but the men plundered everything. They 
demanded revolvers and knives from our men, who, 
instead of complying, deliberately broke them in 
pieces before their eyes, informing them at the same 
time that they would rather put a bullet through 
them. They coaxed us to go home and let them 
alone, then they promised not to molest us; but 
the boys replied : " We will be back again to see 

you in a couple of weeks." 

% 

THE DEAR OLD FLAG PRESERVED. 

The surrender of all the Union flags was expected, 
but the brave boys of the 115th were determined 
to save their banners of freedom and glory from the 
touch of traitors. They were quickly torn from the 
staffs, and two members of the regiment wound 
the folds around their bodies under their clothing. 

Soon, a couple of rebel officers bearing at least 
twenty flags taken from various regiments, came 
along and demanded the flags of the 115th. Two 
empty flag-staffs with oilcloth covers tied down 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 25 

were presented to them, and the cheat was not found 
out, at that time. 

The flags were thus saved, smuggled through the 
rebel lines, and carried by the regiment on a score 
of battle fields, until riddled with bullets- like a 
sieve. 

THE FIRST MAN KILLED IN THE REGIMENT. 

The first man killed in the regiment was John 
Van Brocklin. He was struck in the side by a 
piece of shell, which made a frightful wound, and 
he died soon afterward. 

SLEEPING WITH REBELS. 

We remained one night with the rebels, and they 
made very good bedfellows. 

A detail of grey backs came up to guard the 
arms stacked on the color line. As soon as posted 
the sentinels stuck their muskets in the ground, and 
left them (the muskets) to do duty, while they pro 
ceeded to plunder Union soldiers. The chivalry 
were very ragged and lousy, while a large majority 
of them had no shoes. Being almost famished, the 
rebel officers and men ate hard-tack and sugar as 
though they were the greatest luxuries of life. 

TROOPS PAROLED. 

On Tuesday morning, September 16th, the follow 
ing troops were paroled, and marched from Har 
per s Ferry, viz : 

12th New York Militia, 39th New York Volun- 
3 



26 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

teers, tilth New York Volunteers, 115th New 
York Volunteers, 125th New York Volunteers, 
126th New York Volunteers, 32d Ohio Volun 
teers, 65th Ohio Volunteers, 82d Illinois Volun 
teers, 9th Vermont Volunteers, Rigsby s Indiana 
Battery, Phillips New York Battery, Independent 
New York Battery. 

A HUNDRED MILE MARCH. 

At 9 o clock on the morning of September 16th, 
the 115th moved from Harper s Ferry, and made a 
hard and rapid march of 25 miles during the day, 
camping at night in a piece of woods three miles 
from the city of Frederick, Md. 

The day was exceedingly warm, the men tired 
and supplied with hut few rations, so that knapsacks 
and extra clothing were mostly thrown away. 

TRUE TO THE LAST. 

At a little place called Sandy Hook, a beautiful 
and affecting incident occurred, which shows how 
much good a true woman can sometimes do. 

The men reached there nearly crazy with thirst, 
and had been wondering in vain, how and where 
water could be procured. 

The stars and stripes displayed from a window, 
suddenly attracted our attention and all quickly 
forgot the agonies of thirst ; for it was an unusual 
thing to behold the American flag hung out in those 
parts. A nearer approach enabled us to see the 
flag, supported by a noble-looking lady and her two 
daughters. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 27 

It was refreshing to our hearts, to behold such a 
sublime exhibition of loyalty in that region of mid 
night darkness, during the blackest hour. The 
ladies declared their determination to stand by that 
flag, and would let it wave if Stonewall Jackson 
himself came along. As each company approached 
the flag, heads were uncovered, and one continued 
huzza rent the air, until the last of the 12,000 had 
marched by. The old lady took the last morsel 
of bread in the house and gave it to the soldiers as 
an offering to her bleeding country. The young 
ladies went half a mile with two pails each, and 
brought pure cold water, which might have flowed 
from a crystal fountain. " God bless you ladies," and 
"Heaven protect you, ? were the words last spoken 
by the soldiers ; and away in the distance, the re 
splendent folds of the old flag could still be seen, 
floating in triumph. 

On September 17th, the regiment marched to 
Monocacy Junction, a distance of seven miles, and 
lay in a field where cattle had been slaughtered, 
until the next morning. 

\ 

SCENES AT FREDERICK CITY. 

We reached Frederick City, Md., on the morning 
of September 17th, 1862. A few days previous, 
McClellan had driven the rebels out of the city, 
and fighting took place in the very streets, much to 
the terror of a large majority of the inhabitants, 
who were loyal. The people told us that the rebels 
had pulled down all the Union flags, and in several 



28 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

instances, had tied them to the tails of cows and 
horses, and trailed them in the dust through the 
streets to taunt the Union citizens. 

The Confederate officers cleared out all the Union 
stores and eating saloons paying their victims in 
rebel currency, thereby ruining many business men ; 
while not a dollar s worth of goods was taken from 
any disloyal person. We found the city full of 
life and bustle, and the large store-houses packed 
full of ragged rebel prisoners taken at South Moun 
tain, who looked daggers at every blue coat who 
chanced to pass by them. We rather pitied them, 
for they looked wretched enough. 

A large majority of the people hailed with undis 
guised joy the arrival of Union troops, and even the 
bitterest rebel did not care to see the southern army 
among them again ; for they committed all kinds 
of excesses, while the Union army was quiet, afford 
ing them sure protection, paying for what they 
received of them, and were subjected to strict dis 
cipline. 

I bought a good breakfast of mutton chops, 
warm biscuit, and coffee, for the moderate sum 
of fifty cents ; and change being scarce, paid one 
half of a $1 bill. 

A few miles out of Frederick, sutlers lined the 
road, with wagons and stands full of goods. They 
charged and received exorbitant prices for every 
thing which they had for sale, for soldiers had to 
live regardless of the cost. 

Rancid cheese was bought up eagerly at 1 per 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 29 

pound, and the thirsty soldiers paid a dollar each, 
or more than two days wages, for pint bottles of 
sour beer. Small sweet cakes sold readily for fifty 
cents per dozen, and hundreds were pressing and 
crowding up to the wagons, all striving to be waited 
on first. 

The troops camped at night near a field of green 
corn, and ten acres of it were soon stripped, and 
sweet-corn hissed and sputtered from a hundred 
fires. 

On September 18th, we made a hard march of 
twenty miles. Some were sun-struck, and some 
died on the road. I saw one poor fellow lying by 
the side of the road in a frightful fit ; and the sur 
geon said that he could not recover. 

Hundreds and thousands tired out and were left 
behind; and hundreds more were crawling along 
with blistered and bleeding feet. Scarcely any 
rations were to be had, and all suffered from hunger. 
At night it rained very hard, and we camped in an 
open field. 

At Ellicott s Mills, 1,800 of the sick were packed 
into freight cars, and reached Annapolis on Sunday 
evening, Sept. 21st, at the same time that the 
regiment did. 

A SOLDIER MURDERED IN THE WOODS. 

"While on the long and dreary Harper s Ferry 
march, one morning I concluded, as my feet were 
very sore, that I would start off quite early, so as 
to be up with the regiment at night. At three 
o clock I arose from the ground, tied my blanket 



30 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

around my shoulders, and moved off at a limping 
pace in the direction of Annapolis. I soon came 
to a dense piece of woods, three miles in length ; 
and as it was not yet quite light, the place looked 
lonesome and dismal enough. Upon reaching the 
centre, a soldier suddenly appeared before me, and 
in a solemn tone which startled me, said : " There is 
a man murdered out here in the woods, come 
and see." I at first hesitated about going, thinking 
perhaps it was a plan to murder or rob me ; but on 
reflection, I concluded that my escort did not look 
like a murderer or robber, and followed him among 
the thick darkness of the trees. 

We came to the bank of a small running brook, 
and there lay the body of a young soldier covered 
with blood. His coat and shirt were thrown open 
at the breast, and a deep stab, inflicted by a knife 
or a dagger, had penetrated the heart. The blood 
was slowly oozing out, and his white shirt was 
deeply crimsoned, while the ground was drinking 
up a pool of blood. He had been dead but a short 
time, for his body was scarcely cold, and had we 
known of the terrible struggle going on, perhaps 
we were near enough to have prevented it. A white 
handkerchief was thrown loosely over the murdered 
man s face, and upon removing it, we saw a shadow 
of great agony resting upon his countenance, which 
plainly told us that he had fought and resisted 
hard with death, but at last died amid much suffer 
ing and agony. A desperate struggle had evidently 
taken place between the assassin and his victim, for 



THE IKON HEAKTED REGIMENT. 31 

the wrists of the latter were nearly severed from 
his arms, his hands we re terribly gashed, and it 
seemed as though he had grasped the blade of 
the assassin s knife with desperation to prevent the 
fatal blow, and that the murderer had repeatedly 
wrenched it away. 

Upon making enquiries of every one who passed 
we could only learn that the handsome young sol 
dier belonged to a Maryland regiment, and that 
like myself, had started off early in the morning, so 
as to be up with the regiment at night. After that 
I did not care to march through the woods alone 
and unarmed. 

JOURNAL. 

September 16. I paid a silver quarter of a dollar 
for a poor breakfast, the same for dinner, and one 
quarter of a dollar for a little cider. 

September 18. Could not get anything to eat at 
any price. Money was of no more value to purchase 
food, than grains of sand. The soldiers were ordered 
out of nearly every house which they stopped at. 

September 19. Bought six large peaches for a 
penny. 

September 22. Found 16,000 paroled prisoners 
at Annapolis. Among the number was a portion 
of the Havelock Battery, taken at Malvern Hill. 
The Harper s Ferry troops ate a hearty meal for 
the first time in. many days. 



32 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

ANNAPOLIS CITY. 

Annapolis City is not a pretty town. Although 
noted in history, there is nothing grand or imposing 
in her appearance in 1862. The streets are narrow 
and dirty. The buildings, even on the principal 
squares, are fast going to decay. The marts of 
trade are nearly closed. The once sparkling halls 
of fashion cease to dazzle with jewels and shine 
with beauty, and an air of sadness seems to pervade 
everything, as though crying for the vengeance of 
heaven to descend upon the heads of traitors, who 
brought ruin to so many homes. 

The military have full possession of the city, and 
armed bands of soldiers meet you at every corner ; 
while one person here, and another there, with an 
arm or a leg off, are seen in every street. The 
Naval Academy, and almost all of the fine public 
buildings serve as hospitals for sick and wounded 
soldiers, who arrive from the cruelties of rebel dun 
geons. 

The population is made up of various classes. 
There are a few ladies, who turn up their noses in 
a very unladylike manner at the sight of a Union 
soldier, and who delight to spit on the American 
flag. 

There are multitudes of negroes of all ages, sizes, 
colors and conditions, who are indebted to the war 
for freedom. You may see a few men who put on 
airs, and declare themselves southern born ; a 
sprinkling of mean whites, plenty of hungry, thiev 
ing sutlers, who would sell their country for gold, 
besides a host of honest Union soldiers. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 33 

HO! FOE BALTIMORE. 

On the morning of September 25th, all the Har 
per s Ferry troops received orders to proceed to 
Chicago, 111. Our brigade broke camp at 8 A. M., 
and marched to the dock, were a barge was waiting 
to convey us to Baltimore. 

" My Maryland" was waving in her richest 
green, blossoming in her sweetest flowers, and 
resplendent in all the glories of nature ; yet we 
gladly bade her adieu. 

We traveled in " style." Soldiers generally do. 
Twenty-five hundred of us were packed on board 
of a small Hudson river boat, like herring in a box, 
and when one of the officers ventured to remind 
the captain of the boat that she was too heavily 
loaded, he laughed, and said : " That is nothing, 
she took 3,000 the day before." 

In the course of time, with bands playing, flags 
floating, and men cheering, we left the capital, 
plowed through the blue waters of the Chesapeake 
for two or three hours, when we caught sight of 
Baltimore. Spires and monuments looked down 
upon the city. A forest of masts clustered around 
the harbor, and frowning batteries and heavy guns 
looked threateningly upon us. The dock was soon 
reached, the ropes made fast, and the men soon 
filed off the boat in anything but military order. 
Silently, sadly, and with heavy hearts, we trod the 
streets of the southern metropolis. The column 
moved like a long funeral train, while each heart 



34 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

beat true to the music of the Union, and we loved 
the " starry flag." 

No wonder that we should mourn ; no wonder 
that we should weep for our country in her darkest 
hours, and pray for heaven s richest blessings to 
descend upon her. 

At last, we reached a large building. A thousand 
lights flashed from its windows, and the flag of our 
country waved proudly from the roof. It was 
called the " Soldiers Rest;" one of the noblest 
institutions of the city ; for there, every regiment 
passing through, received a good meal. Our men 
were very hungry, and partook of a hearty supper. 

AV r e left for the west in thirteen long trains of 
freight cars, and the magnetic telegraph flashed the 
news of our approach to every city and village 
through which we were to pass. 



THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA. 

On September 26th, we passed through the city of 
York, and the pretty villages of Perrysville, Mifflin 
and Altoona, Pa. At every station we received 
a hearty welcome. Never in all our da} 8 did we 
see anything to equal it. It was one continued, 
grand ovation. 

Altoona spread out lier ftags, and opened wide 
her doors of hospitality. 

New Brighton poured forth her concourse of 
beauty, and we reached the depot to receive a storm 
of kisses, and to hear the thunder of applause. 

All through Pennsylvania, day and night, ladies 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 35 

crowded up to the cars with pails of hot coffee and 
tea, baskets of cake, pie, chicken, biscuit, apples, 
and in fact, everything which the appetite could 
crave, or the heart desire. Young ladies and old 
ladies, young men and old men, took hundreds of 
the soldiers captive, and gave them hearty and 
even splendid meals in their own homes. 

The dwellings, stores, and hotels along the road 
were thrown open. Mothers took their last loaf 
from the oven, daughters carried jars of jelly and 
nice preserves from the cellar, and with tearful eyes 
begged their acceptance. As the cars moved from 
each station, the fair sex showered apples, peaches, 
pears and oranges among the men like rain. 

In the afternoon we passed through two long 
tunnels, over the Alleghaiiy Mountains, and struck 
the coal and iron mines at dark. We reached the 
city of Pittsburg about four hundred miles distant 
from Baltimore, at 4 o clock on the morning of 
the 27th instant. 

PITTSBURG. 

We breakfasted at the Soldiers Relief, a magnifi 
cent building in the heart of the city of Pittsburg. 
We had coflfee, crackers, and sausage. 

A banner was suspended at our end of the hall, 
bearing these words : 

" Pittsburg welcomes her Country s Defenders." 

The city boasts of the finest meat markets in the 
U. S., also the most extensive iron foundries. 

We left on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago 
R. R., at 9 A. M., on the 27th instant. 



36 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

THROUGH OHIO, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS. 

September 28th was a noisy Sunday for us. At 
Fort Wayne, Indiana, the whole population came 
from the various churches to welcome and feed the 
soldiers. Long rows of tables spread with pure 
white table-cloths, were arranged along the track, 
and filled to overflowing with everything good. A 
committee of two hundred young ladies had charge 
of the affair. 

Thousands blocked up every avenue leading to 
the cars, and the greatest excitement and interest 
prevailed. Chicago was reached at 9 o clock in the 
evening. It was very dark, and the men were about 
worn out. As soon as the train stopped, the con 
ductor ordered every man to leave the cars imme 
diately. As we were strangers in that part of the 
world-, the majority of us concluded to camp in a 
field close by until morning. In an hour or two 
it began to rain, and by midnight it poured down 
in torrents. 

We were drenched to the skin, and upon con 
sultation, we resolved to separate into squads and 
go in search of shelter. Seven of us started off 
together, but made wretched slow progress through 
the mud and thick darkness. 

At last, we saw a light flickering from the win 
dow of a small shanty, and we made for it. 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 37 

I LL KILL EVERY MOTHER S SON OF YE. 

The stoop of the shanty was reached, and one of 
the party knocked loudly at the door ; and in a 
moment a bolt was pulled back, the door opened, 
and Bridget stood before us, while Pat lay drunk 
upon the floor. 

The following amusing conversation then took 
place, while we were soaking in the rain. 

Soldier. "Mrs., can we stay in your barn over 
night ? We are wet to the skin." 

o 

Bridget. " Och ! yes, of course ye can, and may 
the Lord have mercy on yee s." 

Husband. " H-o-o-l-d your tongue, Biddy. By 
the powers of Saint Patrick, I ll kill eveiy mother s, 
son of yee s if ye dont be after gettin out o this, 
ye murderin spalpeens." 

Bridget. " Be aisey my darlint, the boys must 
have some shelter. Soldiers go in the barn and lie 
until mornin, an meself 11 take care o Pat," 

Husband. " Bad luck to yee s." 

Soldier. " Good night, Ma m. We re much obliged 
to you for your kindness, but that old reprobate 
on the floor there needs tanning." 

The party went into the barn, but as it leaked 
badly, and there was no floor in it, we shivered 
until morning, and did not close our eyes in sleep.. 

In the morning all hands wrung out their wet 
clothes, and warmed themselves by Biddy s fire. 
We gave her postage stamps (common currency 
then) for milk and bread, and then left, thanking 
the good old lady for her kindness. 
4 



38 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

CAMPED IN HORSE STALLS. 

Almost all of the regiments were quartered in 
Camp Douglas. But the 115th, 39th 1ST. Y. (Gara- 
baldi Guards), and the 9th Vermont, occupied horse 
stalls, in the Illinois state fair -grounds. 

From four to sixteen men were placed in each 
stall. The camp was named " Tyler," in honor of 
our Brigadier, but it ought to have been named 
" starvation," in honor of Chicago rations. 

SICKNESS AND DEATH. 

Owing to the damp quarters, poor rations, and 
little care, almost all of the regiment were more or 
less sick by the first of November, and large 
numbers soon died. The hospitals were crowded 
to overflowing ; and none of the poor sick soldiers 
were carried from the wretched horse stalls, until 
death was close at hand. Each company had from 
twenty to forty sick with the fever. 

The dead house was always full, and the dead 
cart constantly moving. Six weeks saw at least 
forty of the regiment placed beneath the sod. 

HARD TIMES. 

By the 20th of November everything began to 
look hard at Camp Douglas. The troops were 
badly treated, and half starved. Rations were fur 
nished by contract, at 10J cents per day. 

The bacon was alive with maggots, the bread 
hard, sour, and black, and the sugar the color of 
sand. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 39 

MUTINY, RIOT, AND ARSON. 

At last, almost all of the men refused to do guard 
duty, or take a gun in their hands ; and those who 
were better disposed were overawed by the major 
ity. At one time, the 115th regiment alone, did not 
refuse to take guns ; and during all the trouble and 
excitement, they remained firm for the right. 
Although threatened by the other troops, they 
never refused to do duty, and even assisted in put 
ting down mutiny in the other regiments. A heavy 
detachment that -undertook to preserve the peace 
and perform guard duty at Camp Douglas, were 
pelted with clubs, brickbats, and stones, but held 
their ground until ordered away. Scenes of riot 
and arson were of frequent occurrence, and a regi 
ment s barracks were burned up nearly every night. 

The soldiers blocked up the road with lumber, 
so that the steam fire engines from the city could 
not reach the flames. All this took place at Camp 
Douglas, half a mile from the stalls occupied by the 
115th. The "N. Y. refused to take guns, declar 
ing that their paroles would not allow it. But the 
General commanding thought differently, and de 
termined to bring the mutiny to a speedy close. 
For that purpose, the 115th were ordered to prepare 
to form line, and a certain length of time to be given 
to the to obey commands. The General ad 
dressed them in the meantime, telling them that 
unless they submitted, he would have the last man 
of them shot, and place all of the officers in irons. 



40 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

The th concluded to accept the terms; so they 

declared themselves ready to take guns. 

Soldiers from the regular army were finally sent 
to Camp Douglas to do guard duty, and they 
received orders to shoot any man who attempted 
to cross any of the beats without a proper pass. 
Some of the soldiers did attempt to pass, contrary 
to orders, and one or two of them were shot. This 
incensed the soldiers so much, that they threw 
stones and clubs at the Regulars, and hooted at 
each one showing himself. Things went on from 
bad to worse until November 20th, when .orders 
came for the Harper s Ferry troops to report at 
Washington. 

A SAD CONFLAGRATION. 

A very unfortunate occurrence took place, just 
as the 115th were about leaving camp to take the 
cars for Washington, which afterward came within 
a hair s breadth of destroying the entire regiment. 
They had abandoned the stalls, when suddenly 
flames burst out from half a dozen different parts 
of the late barracks ; and in a very short space of 
time the whole of them were a heap of smoldering 
ruins. The cause of the fire was this : A large 
number of the 115th had stoves in their quarters ; 
and as soon as they left, hundreds of soldiers from 
other regiments rushed in and took possession of 
the stoves for their own use, emptying the ashes 
and live coals in the straw. The result of course, 
was a fire, which destroyed the whole concern very 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 41 

quickly. The officers of the 115th had taken every 
precaution to prevent a fire. After the regiment had 
entirely abandoned the quarters and were formed 
on the color line several hundred yards away, the 
roll was called in every company, and each man 
found to be present. One officer from each com 
pany passed through the vacated company quarters, 
and found everything in proper order. Consequently 
no member of the 115th could have had anything 
to do with the fire, in any shape or manner what 
ever. Yet strange to say, they were afterward 
charged with the crime, and suffered terribly for it. 
Colonel Sammons offered to take the regiment 
and put out the fire, but one of General Tyler s 
staff officers ordered him to march them to the 
cars without delay. 

GOOD BYE CHICAGO. 

"We bade good bye to Chicago with few regrets. 
Farewell " paradise of mud," " City of stairs, rats, 
and lager beer saloons." Good bye shivering 
fevers, wretched horse stalls, and rotten bacon, 
Farewell ! 

To a few kind and noble-hearted young ladies of 
Chicago, we all owe thanks while we live, and may 
heaven bless them, is our prayer. 

BALTIMORE AGAIN. 

The regiment reached Baltimore at sunrise, on 
Sunday morning, Nov. 23d. We had breakfast at 
the late hour of 11 o clock, and stood in the street, 
waiting for the cars, until 2 p. M. 



42 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

A number of Baltimore rebels gathered around 
us, and one began to declare that we were not 
exchanged, and advised the men to desert. Captain 

overheard the remarks, and springing forward, 

quickly struck the fellow over the head with his 
sword hilt several times, telling him to learn better 
manners. The remainder of the party then sneaked 
off. 

"We embarked on board hog cars for the National 
Capital. It was a cold day, and snow fell quite 
fast, while the wind blew almost a hurricane, 
searching through the open cars, and obliging us to 
rush from one end of the car to the other, to keep 
warm. We arrived at Washington at 7 P. M., and 
marched to the Soldiers Relief, where we partook 
of supper and then bunked on the floor for the 
night. 

A COLD NIGHT ON ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. 

On the morning of November 24th, we took 
breakfast at the Relief, and at 11 o clock received 
marching orders. The regiment was soon proudly 
tramping through the streets of the Federal Capi 
tal, and large numbers of people lined the streets, 
asking all sorts of questions; where we were from, 
where we were going, what regiment it was, &c., 
&c. ; and frequently we overheard such remarks as 
follow : " A fine lot of men," "Noble looking fel 
lows," " Good stuff there," &c. We crossed the long 
bridge and trod the sacred and bloody soil of Virginia 
once again. We made a halt at Camp Seward, 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 43 

Arlington Heights, where we remained for the night. 
No tents were put up, and the night was bitter cold, 
so that but few slept at all ; and almost all of the 
men walked about to keep from freezing. Fuel 
was scarce, but some small fires were kindled which 
helped somewhat. At last, although it seemed an 
age, the welcomed daylight appeared and every 
heart was made glad. Six soldiers in a camp near" 
by froze to death. 

SIXTEEN DAYS ON ARLINGTON. 

On the 25th, each man received a spoonful of 
sugar and coffee, and a small piece of pork ; the 
first rations furnished in twenty-four hours. 

At noon of the same day, tents were struck and 
the men carried them on their backs to Camp Chase, 
where our camp was again pitched. From the 26th 
of November until the 12th of December, the regi 
ment labored very hard. They worked on unfinished 
forts, and engaged in putting up comfortable winter 
quarters. 

On Sunday, November 30, Enfield rifles were 
given to the regiment, and an order of exchange 
read. Chaplain Clemens preached a sermon in the 
afternoon. 

On the 4th of December, many of us obtained 
passes to "Washington. We visited all the places 
of interest, including the Senate Chamber and Hall 
of Representatives. All were deeply impressed with 
the necessity of defending Washington against every 
foe. 



44 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

December 6th. Snow fell to the depth of several 
inches, and nearly all of the men manufactured 
stoves out of old camp kettles, to keep warm. 

Sunday, the 7th, was a hitter cold day, and all 
suffered extremely. 

On the evening of December 9, news came, that 
Burnside had burned the city of Fredricksburg. 
The soldiers from all the camps turned out in large 
force, and formed a procession headed by the brig 
ade band, celebrating the event in grand style. 

A HARD MARCH TO HUNTER S CREEK. 

On Friday, December 12, the regiment was 
again under marching orders. Reveille sounded at 
5 A. M., and at 8 o clock they were on the march. 

The whole brigade moved together, and con 
sisted of the following regiments : 

lllth New York Vols., 115th New York Vols., 
4th Delaware Vols., and the 27th Maine Yols. 

The roads were horribly muddy, and those who 
were unfortunate enough to wear shoes, left them 
buried in their tracks. In some places mud was 
knee deep; and the perspiration rolled down in the 
eyes of some, rendering them blind, while others 
were exhausted, and at least one unconsciously let 
his gun drop from his shoulder. 

At 11 o clock A. M., a halt was made for a lunch, 
and at noon we passed through the city of Alexan 
dria, reaching our destination at Hunter s Creek, at 
sundown. We relieved the 2d Vermont Brigade 
of nine months troops ordered to the front. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 45 

Company H, 9th Vermont, made Company H, 
115th New York, some hot coffee, when the latter 
gave hearty cheers for the Green Mountain boys, 
and a tiger for the coffee. 

THIRTEEN DAYS AT HUNTER S CREEK. 

On the 16th, the regiment began building winter 
quarters for the second time. 

On the 15th, a furious storm of wind and rain 
lasted the entire night, and large numbers of the 
tents were blown down. 

On the 17th, the regiment took four days rations 
and went on picket five miles from camp. 

Winter quarters were nearly completed, and more 
than two hundred neat log houses stood there on 
the 18th. 

On the 24th, we received orders to be ready to 
march within thirty-six hours. Arms were inspected 
for the first time. 

TO YORKTOWN, VA. 

December 26. We marched from Hunter s Creek 
at noon, and reached the dock at Alexandria, at 2 
P. M. Embarked at dark on board the steamer s 
Hero and Robert Morris; and after proceeding a 
few miles down the Potomac, anchored until morn 
ing. 

On the 27th, we made slow progress, passing Mt. 
Yernon, the grave of Washington, Fort Washing 
ton, and Acquia Creek. We anchored at night under 



46 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the guns of a Man-of-war, it being dangerous to 
proceed in the dark. 

On the 28th, we sailed into the Chesapeake bay. 
The wind blew fresh, the waves rolled up pretty 
strongly, and some of us were sea-sick. 

Fortress Monroe was reached at noon, and Gen 
eral Dix ordered the Regiment to report to General 
Keyes, at Yorktown. The boats immediately sailed 
up York river, and were made fast to the dock at 
Yorktown, by 3 P. M. 

We marched one mile outside the fort, and occu 
pied the beautiful camp of the 29th Maine. 

The breastworks and rifle-pits erected by McClel- 
lan, stood out in bold relief on all sides. 

YORKTOWN AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY. 

On December 29, several of us took a walk on 
the banks of the York. We picked up a variety 
of shells, tasted of the water flowing at our feet 
(and were surprised to find it nearly as salt as 
brine), and looked along at the fleet of oyster boats 
dotting the noble river. Beautiful peach orchards 
stood within a stone s throw of our camp, and all 
the scenery around served to remind us of home. 

We took much interest in visiting the spot 
where the closing scene of the Revolutionary war 
took place. The spot was pointed out to us, where 
General Cornwallis surrendered his army of 7,073 
men to General Washington. A cedar fence once 
surrounded the place where the British general 
handed his sword over to Washington, but it is 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 47 

now in thousands of northern homes, preserved as 
relics. 

Everybody dined on oysters three times during 
the day. They sold at forty cents per gallon, and 
the soldiers ate them fried, stewed, and raw. 

December 31. Regiment on guard at Headquar 
ters. Inspected, and mustered for pay. 

January 1. A happy new year! Many boxes, 
barrels, and packages of mince pies, cakes, roast 
turkeys, chickens and ducks, arrived from home. 
The poultry was covered with ugly blue mould, 
and spoiled, and extensive preparations were made 
to bury them with military honors. Their lament 
ed forms, covered with mould, were placed in one 
common coffin, when the funeral procession moved 
through the various company streets to the burying- 
ground in the following order, viz : 

1st, A drummer boy slowly beating the dead 
march, on a muffled drum. 

2d, A company of soldiers marching with arms 
reversed. 

3d, The coffin, borne by four soldiers, dressed 
in deep blue. 

4th, The venerable sexton, carrying a long-han 
dled shovel across his right shoulder. 

5th, The chief mourners and sufferers, who were 
sadly weeping, with onions in their eyes. 

The vast throng of spectators, except a couple 

pairs of shoulder straps (pity such narrow minds), 

split their sides with laughter. After all the dead 

ere decently placed beneath their mother earth, 



48 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the audience joined in singing the following appro 
priate stanza: 

Go tell Aunt Nabby, 
Go tell Aunt Nabby, 
Go tell Aunt Nabby, 

Her old grey goose is dead. 
One she s been saving, 
One she s been saving, 
One she s been saving, 

To make a feather bed. 

The customary salute was not fired "by the escort, 
for fear that the militia garrisoning the fort, might 
think that the rebels were coming ; then they would 
either shake to death with fear, or run to " Old 
Pennsylvania " for dear life. 

January 2. A colored rebel spiked several of 
the heaviest guns on the Yorktown fortifications, 
and was caught in the act. He was tried by court- 
martial, and sentenced to be shot to death with 
musketry. A detachment of the 115th executed 
the sentence. They fired at the condemned, and 
he fell over dead on his coffin. 

January 3. After we retired for the night, the 
heavy boom of the signal gun summoned us all to 
arms. Instantly the long roll sounded in camp, 
and the loud commands for the different companies 
to fall in, rang along the streets. The men flew to 
arms in a moment, and we were soon flying 
towards the fort. Headquarters were reached, and 
we stood in line of battle awaiting orders. Col. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 49 

Sammons rode in front, and commanded in a loud, 
clear tone of voice : 

"Attention Battalion! Load at will, Load!" 
General Keyes rode up at that moment and coun 
termanded the order; said that the alarm was a 
false one; thanked us for our promptness and readi 
ness for duty, and then retired. 

It was found that from the time the first alarm 
sounded, until we were in line of battle at Head 
quarters, was just twenty-two and one-half minutes. 
The men had to dress, take a supply of ammuni 
tion, form on the color line, march over one mile, 
and dress up a line upon halting; but did it all in 
the short space of twenty-two minutes and one-half. 
January 8. Eighty volunteers from the regi 
ment, with a detachment of cavalry, embarked on 
board three gun-boats at dark, and landed at West 
Point at midnight. The infantry instantly sur 
rounded the town, and the cavalry swept around 
toward White House, capturing much property. 
The rear portion of a rebel baggage train was taken. 
A quantity of pig lead which the rebels had in 
tended to mold into bullets for the purpose of 
killing "Yankees," fell into our hands. A rebel 
sutler with all his stock in trade was snatched, and 
he looked the picture of despair when ordered to 
Yorktown. The commissary stores were visited, 
and large quantities of oats, corn, and salt, de 
stroyed. 

The rail road track was pounded to pieces with 
cannon balls, and locomotives, cars and bridges, 
5 



50 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

left to the red flames of the torch. The troops 
returned to camp without the loss of a man. The 
rebel Gen. Wise was said to have been very much 
incensed against the regiment, on account of the 
complete success attending the expedition ; conse 
quently, he offered a reward of $300 per head for 
every officer of the 115th caught. He didn t get 
any. 

January 9 and 10. The usual guard duty ; had 
the same battalion, company, and squad drills ; 
went through the manual of arms, the wheels, the 
facings, the loadings and firings, until our bones 
ached again. 

Ate our "Virginia shingles " with a keen relish, 
and drank our cups of coffee with a good grace. 

January 11 to 15. Drilling hard, and engaging 
in target practice. 

January 16. Two rebel cavalrymen deserted to 
our lines. 

January 17. Brigade review, and company in 
spection. The following regiments were on review: 
115th New York, 172d Pennsylvania, 176th Penn 
sylvania, and 179th Pennsylvania. 

January 20. At night we experienced a genuine 
southern storm of wind and rain. Many of the 
tents blew down. Our hard wood ridge-pole 
cracked like a pipe-stem, and it required the united 
strength of two to hold the tent down. 

January 21. Marching orders. Began to pack 
up. 

January 22. Struck tents at 10 A. M., and had all 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 51 

the stores on the dock at 2 p. M. The regiment 
marched to the residence of Major General Keyes, 
who appeared on the piazza, and addressed them 
briefly as follows : 

Officers and Soldiers of the 115^A : I must say that 
I sincerely regret to part with such a fine body of 
men, but you are ordered elsewhere, and I know 
that you will always do your duty. 

Col. Sammons replied in a feeling speech, when 
the men cheered, the band played, and the pleasant 
interview closed. 

Just before evening, we embarked on the iron 
transport Matanzas, and lay at anchor in the stream 
until morning. 

January 23. Sailed for Fortress Monroe at day 
light. On reaching there, we anchored off the Rip 
Raps, and the Colonel reported to General Dix for 
orders. Received sealed orders to report to Gen 
eral Hunter at Hilton Head, South Carolina, 

WHERE ARE WE GOING ? 

was the inquiry that went from lip to lip, for 
none of the soldiers knew. Some of them declared 
that we were not exchanged, never would be, and 
were going to New York to be mustered out of the 
service. 

Others affirmed that they heard a man say that 
he heard one of General Keyes s staff inform an offi 
cer that the 115th were going to Washington to do 
guard duty. Little did the brave men then imagine 



52 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

what trials, suffering, and insults awaited them. 
Little did they dream that those sealed orders con 
tained a sentence of cruel banishment. It was well 
that they did not. 

THE MATANZAS DUNGEON. 

Eight hundred of us were crowded, packed and 
pressed into the dark, dismal, and suffocating hold 
of the Matanzas. The crowded bunks were swarm 
ing with vermin, and not a single breath of pure 
air ever reached that dreary dungeon. Almost 
all of us were deathly sea-sick for forty-eight hours ; 
cared not whether we lived or died, and were unable 
to walk a single step. "We had to vomit on the 
floor, and the stench was almost beyond endurance. 

THE PANGS OF HUNGER. 

While the soldiers were sea-sick, they needed 
nothing to eat, and could not bear the sight of food ; 
but as soon as they recovered from their sickness 
they had ravenous appetites. To their sorrow they 
had little to eat. A few dry hard-tack, a small 
piece of half rotten bacon, and one cup of milk- 
warm coffee was the daily allowance. This of 
course, did not begin to satisfy the cravings of hun 
ger, and was barely sufficient to keep body and soul 
together. 

Three times each day, tables filled with plenty and 
groaning with luxuries were spread out before our 
longing eyes ; yet we could not procure a single 
morsel for love or money. When the perfumes of 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 53 

roast-beef and boiled potatoes floated past us, it 
made our eyes swim, and we longed for a few 
crumbs of bread from the tables in our northern 
homes. 

ON SUNDAY 

the chaplain preached in the dining-room of the 
vessel. But few attended. A dense fog covered 
the water, and we anchored until morning. 

Schools of porpoises rolled in the water near by, 
and hundreds of sea-birds of large size flew close 
to the ship. 



CHAPTER in. 

PORT ROYAL HARBOR. 

The land ! the land ! the land I shouted many of 
the soldiers at once ; and sure enough, the palmetto 
groves and sandy islands of South Carolina were 
plainly visible. 

Every heart was light, and every eye sparkled 
with pleasure at the prospect of setting foot on land 
once more. 

We steamed into the beautiful harbor of Port 
Eoyal at 11 A. M., on the 26th of January, 1863, 
and found no less than a hundred vessels carrying 
the American flag. At 4 p. M., we disembarked, 
and marched through the streets of Hilton Head. 

A halt was made outside of the fort, arms were 
stacked, and beds made on the sand, when all lay 
down for the night. 

SAD TIDINGS GOOD NEWS. 

The regiment was terribly shocked on the morn 
ing of January 28th, to learn that it was under ar 
rest for burning barracks at Camp Douglas, Chica 
go, Illinois. 

We learned for the first time why we were ban 
ished to a sandy island of South Carolina, and 
why the camp was pitched so that the guns of the 
fort could blow us in pieces. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 55 

The cruel sentence declared that all pay and al 
lowances would be stopped until further orders, 
and the meanest kind of work was given the men 
to do. All felt badly, yet they were conscious of 
being innocent, and felt sure that truth and justice 
would finally prevail. 

Enemies brought those infamous charges for 
ward; and without the knowledge of any in the 
regiment, tried them, and passed the wicked sen 
tence. 

The duties imposed were of the most laborious 
kind; and officers and privates were daily insulted 
by those who ought to have known better. 

After a short time, the regiment began to suffer 
for the want of money. The officers had equipped 
themselves, and had never received a cent while in 
the service. The men received but small bounties, 
and they were all expended long before. 

Some received sad letters from home, saying 
their dear ones were suffering for the want of bread. 
One lady wrote to her husband, that herself and 
her children went to bed without any supper the 
previous night, because they had not a penny to 
purchase a morsel of food, 

Others wrote they must soon go to the poor- 
house or starve, unless relieved. It was at last 
decided, that a great effort must be made to relieve 
the regiment. For that purpose, Col. Sammons 
after much trouble, was allowed to proceed to 
"Washington with an address from the regiment, 
to the Government. 



56 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Upon reaching there, he was at first refused a 
hearing at the War Department, but by continued 
perseverance, at last succeeded in having the mat 
ter investigated. The regiment was found to be 
innocent of all the charges brought against it, and 
ordered to be instantly released from arrest, and 
placed on an equal footing with any troops in the 
service. The Secretary of War complimented them 
for good conduct, dispatched a special paymaster 
on the first steamer to pay every man to the latest 
date, and gave them the choice of remaining in 
South Carolina, or returning to Virginia. As 
active operations were about taking place around 
Charleston, the regiment volunteered to remain. 

A CHAPTER ON SNAKES. 

Snakes of many varieties are to be found on Hil 
ton Head. Some of them are of the most poison 
ous and deadly species. Among the number may 
be mentioned the Moccasin, Copperhead, Rattle, 
Adder, Black, &c., &c. 

The water Moccasin was considered the most 
venomous, and all stood in great fear of them, as 
their bite was declared to be sure and speedy death. 
A soldier killed one measuring eighteen inches in 
length, and placed it in the road. Shortly after 
ward, a party of negroes came along, and were 
about to step on the serpent, when one of the num 
ber saw it ; and supposing it to be alive, gave a 
scream of terror, and ran from the spot followed 
by all the others, who cried, " A Moccasin !" " A 
Moccasin !" 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 57 

Seeing that the negroes were so much afraid of 
them, the soldiers were very careful when travel 
ing through the swamps. A snake called the 
Wood Rattle abounded at Braddock s Point, and 
the soldiers made great slaughter among them. 
Many measured seven feet in length, and but few 
were seen less than five. One of our pickets upon 
awaking in the morning, found a huge snake coiled 
up in his blanket fast asleep. Not liking such 
bedfellows, he beat his head to a jelly with the 
butt of his gun. 

Along Broad river, close by a picket post, we 
used to call No. 1, was a den of snakes ; and 
the soldiers on duty there amused themselves hours 
at a time in shooting them as they crawled out 
to bask in the sun. 

A New Hampshire officer found a black snake 
seven feet long, in bed with him one night; and 
after that he built his bunk up from the ground, so 
that the reptiles could not reach him. 

A cavalryman sabred two snakes in front of my 
tent door, and when one of them was cut in halves 
the head part ran off into the bushes and escaped. 
A hollow log was brought into camp one day for 
fuel, and when it was split, a black snake six feet 
long rolled out, much to the terror of the chopper, 
but to the great amusement of the other soldiers; 
who, taking it by the tail, threw it high in the air. 

A member of Co. II was out in the woods one 
day, and while there, was attacked by a monstrous 
adder eight feet in length, Having no weapon to 



58 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

defend himself he shouted for help. A soldier 
who happened to be near by, with an axe, cutting 
tent poles, upon hearing cries of distress, ran to the 
spot, and after quite a struggle dispatched the 
snake. 

Long, slender snakes, as green as grass, and 
some as red as blood, were seen on the roofs of the 
houses. 

INSECTS AND REPTILES. 

During the summer, the gnat, the musquito and 
and the sand flea, are among the soldier s greatest 
enemies. The gnat is about the size of a pin 
head, and swarms around every tree by the million. 
Pickets and guards stand in great dread of them; 
for they light on their faces and necks, and get into 
their hair in spite of everything that they can do ; 
and nothing but tobacco smoke will drive them 
away. 

The red sand flies are the worst of all. They 
will get into a person s stockings and clothes, and 
murder by indies. At night they cover the sol 
dier s blanket, and keep him in agony until morn 
ing. Some of the regiment were so badly bitten 
that their legs and bodies were bleeding sores. 
Insect powders are a partial preventative. 

The musquito also pesters the soldier considera 
bly, and some regiments use musquito nets, fixing 
them around their beds in a frame. 

Alligators also, are to be found on Hilton Head. 

A party of soldiers from Companies H and K, 



THE IKON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 59 

were out one day cutting tree tops for an abattis, 
when they thought something was paddling in a 
swamp close by. On going to the spot, an alligator 
was observed, slowly moving around. None of the 
soldiers had guns, so one of them ran to camp and 
brought one. 

The piece was fired, and the reptile badly wound 
ed in the head, but as none cared to tackle him even 
then, a noose was fixed and thrown over his head, 
and the soldiers pulled him on dry land. The alli 
gator showed fight, and swept his ugly tail around 
in all directions, with a force that would have cut a 
man in two, had he been within reach. 

YANKEE ENTERPRISE. HILTON HEAD. 

When the Union troops first landed at Hilton 
Head but one or two buildings were to be seen ; 
but since the "Yankees" have gone there whole 
streets of stores, saloons, and other places of busi 
ness have been built; and when the runaway plant 
ers come home again, they will, no doubt, be a 
little astonished at the vast improvements. 

The government buildings alone, are a mile in 
length, and it is said, contain provisions enough to 
feed an army of 25,000 men for five years. The 
arsenal is of immense proportions, and contains 
shot and shell enough to rain an unceasing stream 
of iron upon any city for months. 

Port Royal harbor is one of the finest in Amer 
ica, yet previous to the war, a vessel was seldom 
seen in her waters. Now, at least an hundred 



60 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

vessels of all kinds, lay at anchor between Hilton 
Head and Beaufort. 

In the city, rail roads run from the dock to all 
the store houses and the arsenal. 

Steam saw-mills and bakeries are carried on by 
the U. S. ; two newspapers with a large circulation 
enlighten the public, and the sandy streets are 
generally crowded with people. Some of the mer 
chants sell an incredible amount of goods, and I 
need uofrsay, realize large profits. 

NIGHT ASSAULT. 

On Thursday morning, March 12th, 1863, the 
rebels crossed Broad river in row-boats and attack 
ed Spanish Wells. They marched boldly up to the 
picket line, and when halted by the sentinel replied 
that they were friends with the countersign. The 
sentinel, thinking that they were a party of Union 
troops, ordered them to halt, and allowed one of 
the number to advance to the point of his bayonet, 
so as to receive the countersign. 

Several of the rebels slipped past, unnoticed in 
the darkness, and in an instant presented a couple 
of revolvers to his head and soon put him out of 
the way. 

The daring raiders then marched for the signal 
station, and although there were 10,000 Union troops 
a short distance away, before any alarm could be 
given, they were making tracks for the main land 
with the entire Signal Corps prisoners. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 61 

Some of the gang fired the lookout, and it was 
burned to the ground. 

All the troops on the island were under arms as 
soon as the alarm was sounded ; but by that time 
the rebel crew were safe in their retreat. 

The 115th marched some miles, but came back 
to camp without seeing a Johnny. 

DUTY AT HILTON HEAD. 

The regiment engaged in every variety of duty. 
Large details of men were working on forts and 
magazines, loading and unloading vessels, provost 
duty, picket, guard, and in fact every variety of 
work that soldiers are called upon to perform. Five 
months were occupied in that way. 

SCENES IN THE PROVOST QUARTERS. CAPTAIN GLADDING. 

A rebel officer confined in the provost quarters 
breathed his last during the evening of June 25th r 
1863. His history is a sad one, and ought to be a 
solemn warning to those in rebellion against the 
best of governments. 

Before the war he was a wealthy, respected, and 
worthy merchant of the city of Savannah, Ga. 
When his state seceded he espoused the rebel cause 
with all his soul, and devoted his ample fortune, his 
rich talents, and his life to the south. He pur 
chased a fast vessel, loaded her with cotton, and at 
tempted to run the blockade ; but the ship was cap 
tured, and himself taken prisoner. After a while 
he was exchanged ; but instead of going home, pro- 
6 



62 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

ceeded direct to a foreign country ; and after load 
ing a powerful vessel with goods of great value, at 
the south, attempted to run the blockade a second 
time. As before, his vessel was captured and him 
self and crew taken prisoners. For sometime he 
was closely confined, but at last was allowed the 
liberty of a large room. He died of consumption. 

The Union officers connected with the office, true 
to their feelings of humanity, purchased a beautiful 
and costly rosewood coffin, and in it forwarded his 
remains through the lines to his family in Savannah. 

This would have been a worthy example for the 
rebels to follow, who were murdering our men by 
thousands, but they did not. 

STORIES OF REFUGEES. 

Large numbers of refugees and deserters came in 
from the rebel cities of Charleston and Savannah, 
and gave quite interesting accounts of matters in 
Dixie. 

A deserter from the 4th Georgia Cavalry made 
the following statement : 

"I am a native of Ulster County, New York, and 
was south when the rebellion broke out. I was 
forced to join the army. There are but few troops 
in Georgia, nearly all having gone to reinforce 
Pemberton at Yicksburgh. My regiment is badly 
demoralized, and almost all of them are ready to 
desert at the first opportunity. A large number 
are northern men, and the remainder are heartily 
sick of the cause." 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 63 

A refugee, who appeared to be a very intelligent 
man, said: 

" I was a telegraph operator on the great southern 
line for the Confederate government. I am a native 
of northern Georgia, and my father is a large slave 
holder. I can, and am willing to pilot a body of 
men to a point where they can cut off all communi 
cation between Richmond and the cotton states. I 
could give the strength of all the rebel armies now 
in the field, and their respective locations. I have 
important information for Gen. Gilmor,e." 

Eight deserters came in from Fort Sumter, and 
the reader will observe by the following account of 
their escape, what men had to go through with who 
managed to get away from rebeldom. 

They were ordered on a certain island to build a 
mortar battery. While thus engaged, they resolved 
to desert. During the day they discovered a small 
boat lying in the water and instantly laid plans to" 
escape that night. 

Accordingly after dark, with the boat on their 
shoulders, they stole away from their comrades and 
soon reached the bank of a river. To their conster 
nation it was found that a heavy cavalry picket 
were patroling the beach to prevent deserters from 
reaching the Union lines. They secreted themselves 
in the bushes, to avoid detection and certain death, 
until a good opportunity presented itself. Then 
four of the number placed the little boat in the 
water, paddled off from the shore noiselessly, and 



64 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

soon left their enemies in the distance. In due 
time they reached the Union line at Folly Island, 
when they wept tears of joy. 

The other four who remained behind hid them 
selves in a dense swamp for a couple of da}*s, and 
although hunted by blood-hounds and fiends in 
human shape, at last stood on free soil, and under 
the protecting folds of the Stars and Stripes. 

" WE ALL YANKEE NOW." 

On asking a colored soldier of the 3d South Car 
olina Vols., if he liked to be a soldier, he made the 
following characteristic reply : 

" Oh yes Massa, we all berry willin to be a soger, 
we all Yankee now. I want a little fight and a 
little rest. When my ole massa, he heerd de 
big Yankee gun, he took legs an run away. WQ 
all prayed de Lord to hatfg up the Yankee peoples. 
Den Colonel Montgomery he cum, an we ail j ined 
de Lincoln army, massa." 

THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE. 

A brave and noble-hearted soldier of the 3d 
Rhode Island regiment was fearfully mutilated on 
Morris island. Both of his arms were shot away, 
and two mangled, bleeding stumps, were all that 
remained. Both of his eyes were blown from their 
sockets, and the sightless eyeballs were awful to 
look upon. His face was mashed to a sickening 
jelly, yet wonderful to say he lived a monument 
of the cruelties of war. Though racked with terri- 




THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 65 

ble pain and suffering, he boldly cheered for the flag 
of his country, and said he gloried in his wounds. 
His only regrets were, that he could fight no more 
for the Union. 

At one time, a rebel sergeant lay on an adjoining 
bed in the hospital cursing the Yankees, while our 
hero was cheering the spirits of the Union boys by 
singing patriotic pieces. That was too much for 
the brave man to stand, so he requested to be 
helped out of bed, that he might give the noisy 
rebel a good thrashing. 

After many months he was well enough to be re 
moved from the hospital, and he joined his family 
in his native state. 

REBEL MODE OF PROCURING GREENBACKS. 

Captain M , of the First South Carolina Keg- 

ular Artillery, with his entire company, were taken 
prisoners on Morris island. 

Like a great many other rebel officers, he was 
devoid of all principle and humanity, and his chief 
virtue consisted in his knowing how to curse and 
murder "Yankees." 

While a prisoner of war, a package of money was 
sent to him by seme friends South. One of our 
officers visited his room, and proceeded to count out 
the money for the purpose of seeing that the amount 
was correct. It consisted of greenbacks, and hor 
rible to relate, the bills were all clotted together 
with human blood; the blood of brave Union sol 
diers, who died defending their country s flag. The 



66 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

money had evidently been stolen from their bleed 
ing corpses, and was baptized with many hearts 
best blood. 

The Union officer was greatly shocked, and with 
burning cheeks held up the bloody bills before the 
rebel captain s eyes, and bade him look at them. 
The rebel turned deathly pale, and trembled from 
head to foot at the sad sight. He was a cold-heart 
ed, cruel man, but could not stand that. 

On one occasion he had the brass to address one 
of our officers in a very insolent manner, and de 
manded to know why he was not exchanged and 
sent through the lines like other prisoners ? The 
officer replied in a manner that put a damper on 
his insolence, and greatly shocked his southern sen 
sibilities. 

"Sir," said the Union officer, "you are held 
to await the doom assigned you by your own 
brethren. If they carry out their threats, and exe 
cute the negro prisoners in their hands, you are the 
first man who will swing with a Yankee halter 
around your neck." 

When first captured he pretended to be very 
proud and haughty, and put on far too many airs 
for a prisoner of war. He would turn up his nose 
and curl his lip disdainfully, declaring that he hated 
the whole Yankee race. He got cured of such no 
tions before he left, for everybody laughed at him 
for his pains. 

His company, captured at the same time, were 
mostly men from Troy, Boston, ^and Kew York, 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 67 

who went to South Carolina with a contractor to 
build a rail road. "When the war broke out they 
were forced to enlist, and never received six months 
wages which was due them. They were but too glad 
to get out of the rebel service ; and notwithstanding 
the captain s threat of vengeance, took the oath of 
allegiance, almost to a man. 

The Free South, in speaking of the captain and 
his company, says: 

"Nearly the whole of Captain Macbeth s company 
captured at Morris island have taken the oath of al 
legiance. He seems to chafe more over this fact than 
ever. He one day remarked to a provost officer 
that it was as much as a man s life was worth in the 
rebel army to neglect any opportunity to hang an 
officer of a negro regiment. 

"It will be as much as your life is worth, if they 
hang a single one," said the officer. "What! do 
you propose to take me as a hostage for officers of 
negro troops ? " inquired the indignant Macbeth, and 
then added tragically, " Oh, brute ! brute! " 

LARGE MORTALITY IN THE REGIMENT. 

Owing to hard duty and warm weather, the regi 
ment had become very sickly, and by the 20th of 
June the men began to. die off at a fearful rate. It 
was thought that Beaufort would be a healthy locali 
ty; so on the 27th of June they were released from 
all duty and ordered to proceed there. Tents were 
struck at 9 A. M. ; we embarked at 7 P. M.; and reached 
our destination at 10 J p. M., on the 27th. 



68 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

BEAUFORT. 

At sunrise on the 28th, we marched through the 
streets of the "Saratoga" of South Carolina. Our 
martial band played one of their finest pieces, and 
it sounded sweet and beautiful beyond description 
on that quiet Sabbath morning. The people were 
captivated, the same as the regiment had often 
been; and good judges of music living in Beaufort 
declared that they had often heard some of the 
best bands in our own country, as well as the finest 
in the British service, but had never heard anything 
to equal the sweetness of that piece. It was quite 
a feather in Ripley s (our fife major) hat. 

For a long time after our arrival in Beaufort 
death continued to visit our ranks nearly every day, 
and a long row of graves soon helped to fill up the 
graveyard. 

Typhoid fever and chronic diarrhoea made our 
camp a great hospital, and everything wore a sad 
and gloomy look ; and it was not until cold weather 
came on that the tide of disease and death was 
stayed. 

JOURNAL. 

November 28. The enlisted men of the regiment 
presented Colonel Sammons with a fine horse and 
equipments, valued at $400. 

November 30. Marched to Port Royal ferry, on 
the Broad river, to do picket duty for twenty days. 

December 3. Made a midnight raid on Barnwell s 
island for the purpose of attempting the capture of 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 69 

rebel pickets, but they had fled. Private John A. 
Hogan shot a colored man dead, who refused to 
halt when ordered. 

December 15. "We met the officers of the " Geor 
gia Tigers" under a flag of truce, at Port Royal 
ferry. 

December 20. Received marching orders for Hil 
ton Head. Embarked at midnight on the steamers 
Delaware and Island City. 

December 21. Landed at Hilton Head at day 
light ; lay out in the cold all day waiting for tents. 

December 22. Brigade received by General Sey 
mour. It consists at present of the 47th "N. Y., 
48th K Y., 115th K Y., 6th Conn., and 1st S. C. 
Colored Volunteers. 

February 4. Marching orders ; the entire division 
to carry six days rations three of them in haver 
sacks. 

February 5. Seymour s division, 10th corps, num 
bering 7,000 men, embarked on thirty-five vessels 
for the state of Florida. The object of the expe 
dition is said to be to obtain a firm foothold in the 
heart of the state, and to capture, if possible, its 
capital. The 115th left tents and baggage behind. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE CAMPAIGN IN FLORIDA. 

At 4 o clock on the morning of February 7th, we 
reached the bar at the mouth of St. Johns river, 
Florida. 

At 12 M., only fifteen vessels of the fleet had been 
able to cross the bar, but during the day the tide 
rose and all passed safely over. 

At 1 P. M., the entire fleet sailed for the city of 
Jacksonville^ fifty miles up the river. 

The buildings along the banks were filled with 
greybacks of all ages, but none of them appeared 
in the least warlike. Some of the ladies actually 
waved handkerchiefs and threw kisses ; but the 
men skulked behind trees and old sheds, and atten 
tively viewed the proud Yankee fleet and the gay 
display of national bunting. 

As far up as Jacksonville the river is crooked 
and muddy, while the banks glisten with pure white 
sand, appearing in the distance like great banks of 
snow. 

Jacksonville was reached just as the sun was 
sinking in the west, and the sky was a blaze of 
glory. The vessels sailed up to the dock, and at 
the same time .our bands discoursed national airs. 

The surprise was complete, and we occupied the 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 71 

town with a loss of three men, capturing the rebel 
Signal Corps, and some other prisoners. 

A guerrilla observing the expedition approach 
ing, swore that he would shoot the first man who 
set foot on the dock. The first mate of the steamer 
"General Hunter" happened to jump on the dock 
first, when the concealed assassin shot him through 
the right breast. A colored soldier of the 55th 
Massachusetts was also shot. 

MIDNIGHT ATTACK ON CAMP FINNEGAN. 

On the 8th, the men boxed up dress coats and 
threw away all extra clothing preparatory for 
work. 

At sundown a portion of the division moved 
from Jacksonville in three columns, for the pur 
pose of attacking, at midnight, the rebel Camp 
Finnegan, distant ten or twelve miles. 

"We made a hard march mostly on a double 
quick through swamps and woods, fording creeks 
and scaling piles of logs and brush, until the point 
of attack was just ahead. 

The march had, so far, been so secret and rapid, 
and so well conducted, that the whole rebel picket 
line, extending for three miles, was gobbled up, 
and not a man of them escaped to warn the main 
army of our approach. 

The rebel camp was nearly surrounded, when 
unfortunately, they became alarmed from some 
cause, .and a large number of the rebel soldiers 
managed to escape to the swamps. 



72 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

The Union troops immediately took possession of 
the camp, a large number of prisoners, nine pieces 
of artillery, a wagon load of small arms, swords 
and sabres enough to arm a cavalry company, one 
flag, and a considerable quantity of stores and am- 
lertmition as the fruits of victory. 

The rebel camp was filled with fat turkeys, 
chickens, ducks, and geese; and as soon as arms 
were stacked the order to charge hen-coops was 
given, and the soldiers soon swept away all poultry 
from before them [until the feathers flew in all 
directions. Such a cackling and gobbling was 
never before heard in eastern Florida, and the 
rebels secreted in neighboring swamps must have 
enjoyed the midnight serenade, to say the least. 
The camp was abandoned in great haste. 

"We found hogs hanging up just dressed; kettles 
of beef steaming over the fire ; plates of warm hom 
iny and liver on the table ; and papers and books 
strewn about in every direction. Rebel officers 
hardly stopped to dress, and left coats and swords 
behind for the dreaded Yankees. 

Col. Henry, with a detachment of the 1st Mass. 
Independent Cavalry, charged and captured a bat 
tery of eight guns in a swamp. 

At about 2 o clock a heavy picket line was thrown 
out, and the remainder of the army lay down to 
rest. "We were soon brought to our feet again, for 
the guerrillas had attacked the pickets; but by the 
time that arms were taken from the stacks, the 
guerrillas were repulsed, and the firing ceased. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 73 

Among some letters found, was one from a rebel 
soldier in Bragg s army, to his cousin in Camp Fin- 
negan. In describing the battle of Chattanooga, 
he takes occasion to say: 

" The Yankees whipped us terribly at Chatta 
nooga; and after the fight, one of our brigades 
stacked arms and left for home." 

SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF BALDWIN. 

During the morning of February 9th, our men 
were engaged in scouring the swamps and woods 
for the purpose of cleaning out the rebels. They 
appeared to be perfectly panic-stricken, and large 
numbers of them surrendered without firing a gun 
or making the least resistance. 

We made a hard march to Baldwin, a town situ 
ated fifteen miles from Camp Finnegan. 

A portion of the march was through a swamp,, 
and for a long distance the water was knee deep, so&gt; 
that we got pretty well soaked by night. 

Our troops gained another bloodless victory at 
Baldwin. At about daylight they surrounded, sur 
prised, attacked and captured the town with all its 
contents, without suffering the loss of a man. 

The rebels had a battery mounted on a platform, 
car, which might have done us great damage, but 
the 40th Massachusetts gallantly charged and cap 
tured it. 

The fruits of our victory were a number of pris.. 
oners, several pieces of artillery, cotton valued at 
$25,000, immense quantities of turpentine, resin,, 
7 



74 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

pitch, tobacco, and salt; also, the telegraph and 
post offices complete, a train of cars, &c., besides 
gaining possession of three lines of rail road. 

SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR FIRING OFF A GUN. 

But few outside of the army are aware of the 
summary manner in which a soldier is punished if 
he disobeys orders. A couple of incidents occurred 
to-day, that partially illustrate the character of 
sentences sometimes imposed. 

A soldier of Co. H fired off his gun contrary to 
orders, and was sentenced to be shot within three 
hours. 

The Provost Marshal General came up to the 
man, and in a solemn tone asked him if he was 
ready to die. The poor fellow was completely over 
come, as he realized that he was under sentence of 
death, and the big tears started from his eyes. The 
Provost Marshal continued: "Sir, get your affairs 
ready, for you die within three hours !" The last 
words sounded the death -knell in his ear, and the 
tears froze on his cheeks. He asked if there was 
no hope no chance to escape the fearful doom? 

Ah, yes ; there is always hope while there is life. 
He was a good soldier, and his officers interceded 
for him, and in a short time presented him the joy 
ful tidings that he was pardoned snatched from 
the grave. Tears of thankfulness rolled down his 
cheeks, and he resolved to be a better man. 

Another soldier took a chicken from a poor 
widow, when he knew that he was disobeying or- 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 75 

ders. For that, he too was sentenced to be shot, 
but was pardoned for the reason that he had always 
been a good soldier. , 

A BOLD REBEL SPY. 

An old looking chap, a genuine specimen of an 
east Florida bushwacker, came into Baldwin and 
pretended to be very sick. He said he was a good 
Union man, but had been forced into the rebel ser 
vice at the point of the bayonet, &c., &c. 

He took note of everything transpiring around 
town, when he very coolly walked up to the rail road 
track, and was finally on his way to the rebel lines 
with his valuable information, when a negro inform 
ed an officer that the sick soldier was a captain in 
the rebel army. He was immediately pursued, 
caught, and searched, and a commission as captain 
in the Confederate army was found in his clothing. 
He was, of course, placed under guard, and was 
held as a spy. 

OUR ADVANCE FALL IN AN AMBUSCADE AT BARBER S 
PLANTATION. 

We moved from Baldwin in the afternoon of Feb 
ruary 10th, and marched until midnight, halting 
at Barber s plantation on the St. Mary s river. To 
prevent surprise we camped in a hollow square with 
artillery in the centre, and cavalry on the flanks. 

In the morning our cavalry advance was am 
bushed at the crossing of the St. Mary s river, and 
our men were shot down in true Indian style, and 



76 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

killed with a brutality that would cause one s blood 
to run cold. 

The rebel murderers tore up the bridge, which 
mad"e it necessary for our men to pass through a 
narrow defile, with a dense growth of trees and 
brush on either side. 

They unexpectingly dashed into the dark haunt 
of death, when from every tree and stump came 
the cruel bullet, and three of the brave fellows fell 
from their horses dead, and sixteen wounded, 
without a moment s warning. The remainder in 
stantly dismounted to avenge the death of their 
comrades ; but the cowardly rebels had fled, not 
daring to meet the Union boys on even footing. 

The cavalrymen pursued them swiftly and suc 
ceeded in shooting several, two of whom they 
captured, but they were badly wounded and soon 
died. The barbarous crew were unworthy of even 
the name of rebels, for it is said that they mur 
dered at least one of our men in cold blood. The 
unfortunate man was a sergeant. He was wounded 
with the others, and being unable to help himself 
was left where he lay for a short time. The rebels 
upon coming back, observed that he was not dead, 
and put six balls into his body, and then left hi in 
struggling in the agonies of death. 

The murdered man had a thirty day furlough in 
his pocket, and expected to go home in a few days. 
He did go to his long, long home. 

Our dead were buried in one grave at the foot 
of a large pine, close by the St. Mary s river. A 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 77 

rude cross was hewn on the tree, to mark the last 
resting place of the dead heroes. 

A GIANT REBEL. 

A rebel, six feet four in his boots, dressed in 
Confederate uniform, with nearly a cart-load of 
clothing on his back, had the misfortune to mis 
take the 115th for a column of rebel troops, and 
marched along with us for some distance. "When 
told of his grave mistake his surprise knew no 
bounds; yet he instantly declared that he was a 
good Union man. 

THE TOWN OF SANDERSON TAKEN. 

On the llth, we marched to Sanderson, a dis 
tance of eight miles, and occupied the town with 
out opposition. 

The rebels had taken warning at our approach 
and burned all their depots of supplies, half an acre 
of corn-cribs, and immense quantities of salt. 

They set the woods on fire so as to obstruct our 
onward march, but it was "no go." So far we had 
surmounted all difficulties and carried terror to the 
hearts of traitors. 

Our cavalry pushed on until within two miles of 
Lake City, but not being strong enough to attack, 
returned to Sanderson. 

We camped in the streets of the town at night, 
and the rain fell in torrents. 

I awoke at three o clock in the morning and 
found six inches of water under my blanket, and 



78 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

myself wet to the skin and numb with cold. Sev 
eral of us stood around a fire and shivered until 
daylight. 

Three of the "Johnnies" being rather "hard 
up" for grub, and not very bitter advocates of trea 
son, came to the edge of a piece of woods and 
waved a couple of white rags as tokens of peace. 
Some of the boys went up to them, took away their 
guns, and escorted them to camp, where they took 
the oath of allegiance. 

On the 12th we breakfasted three hours before 
daylight, and marched back to Barber s to await 
the arrival of reinforcements. 

SINGLE ENCOUNTERS IN THE WOODS. 

One of our men came suddenly across a rebel 
cavalryman in the woods. The rebel was ordered 
to surrender, but instead of that he jumped from 
his horse, threw his gun and sabre upon the ground 
and took to the swamp for dear life. Doubtful if 
he has stopped yet. 

Another had the audacity to ride up to a cavalry 
man and inquire u when the Yankee infantry were 
coming along?" Without waiting for an answer, 
he wheeled his horse around and flew toward a 
piece of woods. The "Yankee" pursued and over 
took him, when a hand to hand fight took place. 
It ended in the rebel being knocked from his horse 
and made a prisoner of war. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 79 

A MARCH OP SEVENTY MILES THROUGH FLORIDA SWAMPS. 

The 115th was selected by the general com 
manding to proceed to a town called Callahan Sta 
tion, near the Georgia line, for the double purpose 
of scouring the country and to destroy the rail road 
and burn some ferry boats. 

Early on the morning of the 14th, accompanied 
by one gun of battery B, IT. S. artillery, and three 
companies of Massachusetts cavalry, we started on 
a march of seventy miles. 

Our path lay through swamp and water until 
noon, when we halted for dinner at the house of a 
man who beheld for the first time in four years the 
flag of his country. 

He had never heard of greenbacks, and saw a 
United States soldier for the first time since the In 
dian war. We took up the line of march again in 
the afternoon and halted at dark. 

Camped in a piece of pine woods, having marched 
twenty-five miles during the day. 

On the 15th, we left all blankets and coats under 
a guard of fifty men, and passed forward to Callahan. 
Having accomplished the object of the expedition, 
we started on the return, and camped at night where 
we left in the morning. 

Marched twenty-five miles. 

On the 16th, rations were scarce, salt in great 
demand, and hard-tack above par. 

"We broke camp at 4 o clock in the afternoon and 
marched steadily until eight in the evening, when 
we halted for supper. 



80 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

A council of officers was held, to decide whether 
we should proceed or not. 

The men were all tired out, our feet were bleed 
ing, and every soldier declared that they could not 
go a single inch farther. 

It was dangerous to tarry ; so it was decided that 
the men could rest until 1 P. M., when we must 
march to Barber s with all possible haste. 

For supper each company received half a beeve 
and some pork. 

Promptly at 1 o clock we were on the march. 
It was a terrible tramp to say the least, and will 
never be forgotten by those who took part in it. 
"We were obliged to ford creeks and rivers in the 
cold and thick darkness, and the only way the men 
could see was by the aid of large fires kindled by a 
guard sent in avdance. 

We reached Barber s at eight A. M., about an 
hour before the cavalry and artillery. 

Our march had been so rapid, that the cavalry 
and artillery horses were worn out, and many had 
dropped down dead along the road. 

The two other branches of the service admitted 
that the 115th could beat their time ; that infantry 
on bad roads could out-march cavalry and artillery. 

THE BATTLE OP OLUSTEE. 

Little did we think when we left Barber s on the 
morning of the 20th, that before night we would 
engage in a hard and bloody battle. 

Our march had been so triumphant through 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 81 

Florida that we began to think the rebels would 
offer no serious resistance ; but they had quietly 
and secretly drawn all their forces from Georgia, 
South Carolina, and Florida, had concentrated at 
Olustee, eighteen miles from Barber s, and were 
waiting our advance. 

We marched in three columns, with the 7th New 
Hampshire armed with the Spencer repeating rifle 
in advance as skirmishers, until the battle com 
menced. 

The force of the rebels was about 16,000, while 
ours was barely 5,000. 

REGIMENTS ENGAGED ON THE UNION SIDE. 

The following regiments were engaged on the 
Union side : 

47th New York, 48th New York, 7th New 
Hampshire, IstN. C. colored, 115th New York, 7th 
Conn., 8th TJ. S. colored, 54th Mass, colored, 40th 
Mass. Mounted Infantry, Batteries B and C, U. S. 
Artillery, and Battery C, 3d Rhode Island Artillery. 

REGIMENTS ENGAGED ON THE REBEL SIDE. 

The following regiments were engaged on the 
rebel side, according to the Savannah Republican: 

1st Georgia Infantry, 6th Georgia Infantry, 19th 
Georgia Infantry, 23d Georgia Infantry, 27th Geor 
gia Infantry, 28th Georgia Infantry, 32d Georgia 
Infantry, 64th Georgia Infantry, 1st Florida In 
fantry, 6th Florida Infantry, 2d Florida Cavalry, 
4th Georgia Cavalry, Scott s Battalion Cavalry, 



82 TiiEflnoN HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Boone s Battalion Cavalry, Florida Light Artil 
lery, Chataiu Artillery, and Gerard s Battery. 

HOW THE BATTLE CAME ABOUT. 

When the battle began, the left of the Union 
army was resting on the rail road track, after a 
hard and fatiguing march of nineteen miles. 

The 7th New Hampshire was deployed as skir 
mishers, and coming in contact with the rebel skir 
mish line, instantly attacked and drove them in 
their works. 

WHERE THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT. 

The bloody battle of Olustee was fought on Sat 
urday, February 20th, 1864, at a station on the 
Florida, Atlantic & Gulf Central R. R., between 
a force of 16,000 rebels, under Generals Finnegan, 
Colquett, and Harrison, and 5,000 Union troops 
under General Seymour. 

The battle began at 3 o clock in the afternoon 
and raged with unexampled fury, until night drew 
her dark mantle over the scene. 

HOW THE CONTENDING ARMIES WERE FORMED. 

The rebels chose their own position, formed their 
long lines of battle in a half circle, posted their 
deadly sharpshooters behind every available stump, 
tree, and fence, and even in the tree-tops, and en 
gaged us with an overwhelming army of fresh troops. 

Our army formed in a single line of battle and 
boldly attacked the enemy, holding their ground 
against the most fearful odds for three hours. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 88 

GALLANTRY OF THE 115th. 

Nearly all the troops on the Union side fought 
with desperation, but the 115th Regiment of !N"ew 
York Volunteers made the most gallant fight, and 
contested the field inch by inch the most stubbornly 
of all. 

Its fearful and almost unparalleled loss of men, 
being more than one half of the whole number en 
gaged, is the only argument necessary to substanti 
ate the statement; for they were not swept away 
while rushing with terror and confusion to the rear, 
but were all killed and wounded while standing up 
in solid and unbroken line, bravely and gallantly 
fighting the enemy. 

Up to the opening of the fight, the regiment to 
gether with the other troops, had marched nineteen 
miles without partaking of a morsel of food, and 
although tired, hungry, thirsty and foot-sore, cheer 
fully rushed into the very thickest of the conflict, 
nerved by the terrible battle cry of "Harper s 
Ferry!" 

Before we became engaged, some of our com 
rades were falling, and many were dragging them 
selves to the rear covered with blood. 

Our men became frenzied at the sight, and begged 
to be hurried to the front that they might avenge 
the death .of those already fallen, and hurl their pa 
triotic columns against the foe. They did not wait 
long, for the command to move forward soon rang 
along the line: "Battalion, forward! guide center, 
double quick march !" thundered the Colonel. 



84 THE IRON HEAKTED REGIMENT. 

"We instantly swept forward in a beautiful line in 
the face of a galling fire, through reeds higher than 
our heads, and over logs and fences, until the hate 
ful columns of southern grey were plainly visible. 
We halted and began to fire, and they greeted our 
appearance with a deadly volley of musketry. 

It was now a continuous roar on both sides, and 
for three long hours the swift tide of battle surged 
with cruel fury. There was no lull in the rattle of 
musketry no calm and serene moment of security. 
The leaden messengers of death hailed down in un 
ceasing torrents. Grape and cannister swept by 
with hideous music, and shell after shell tore 
through our ranks and burst amid heaps of our 
wounded heroes. 

THE REBELS CHARGE THE REGIMENT. 

The 115th was entrusted with the right of the 
line of battle, and the rebels observing our fearfully 
thin ranks, boldly advanced to drive us back. 

The 115th closed up and stood the shock like a 
mountain of adamant. Our men poured such a 
withering and destructive fire into their massed 
columns that they soon began to waver, and at last 
went reeling and staggering back with tremendous 
loss. 

GREAT SLAUGHTER AMONG ARTILLERY. 

Unfortunately our artillery had been planted 
almost up to the rebel works, and in a short space 
of time nearly every gun was rendered useless. 
The horses and men were nearly all killed or 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 85 

wounded, and it was the greatest slaughter among 
artillery known in the history of this war. 

The United States colored troops formed 

and manoeuvred under fire, and suffered heavy 
losses. They were marched on the field in column 
of company, and then formed in line under a de 
structive fire. Their colonel was then shot dead 
from his horse, and the arms of the regiment were 
not loaded ; but they preserved their line admira 
bly and fought splendidly. 

A BAYONET CHARGE. 

The balls were flying thicker and thicker, the 
115th was growing smaller and smaller, and the 
boys were falling faster and. faster, but they kept 
closing up to their battle flag, and sent cheers of de 
fiance to the rebels. 

All the officers were dressed in full uniform, and 
with swords raised, coolly urged the men to be 
steady and fire low. Our fire now began to tell 
dreadfully in the ranks of the enemy, and their fire 
grew feebler. 

The 54th Massachusetts Colored Volunteers, which 
had been in reserve, now came up on a double-quick, 
to make a charge to recapture if possible some of 
our lost guns. 

The 115th New York had not a single round of 
ammunition (even the boxes of the killed and 
wounded had become exhausted), but they fixed 
bayonets, and with a soul-stirring cheer, rushed for 
ward with the 54th. 
8 



86 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

The fire of the enemy was too heavy for the little 
band, and they were compelled to fall back to their 
old position after desperate fighting. 

THE REGIMENT SAVES THE ARMY FROM CAPTURE. 

After three hours of fighting, every regiment ex 
cepting the 115th had been compelled to leave the 
field. 

Our boys occupied precisely the same position 
which they did at the opening of the battle. 

They stood battling over the bodies of their fallen 
comrades, and would not be driven from the field, or 
own themselves whipped. 

At last the shades of night covered the field of 
blood, and we were then ordered to the rear. After 
giving three ringing cheers of defiance to the rebels, 
the regiment slowly and sadly dragged themselves 
away. 

Over one half were killed and wounded, and the 
remainder were black with powder and the smoke 
of battle, and could hardly move. 

But they made a long and wearisome night s 
march of nineteen miles, and then snatched a few 
hours of hurried sleep on the cold ground. 

General Seymour who was scarcely ever known 
to pay a compliment to a volunteer regiment, said 
"The 115th was the best regiment he ever saw 
under fire." A staff officer pointing to the 115th 
as they were in the heat and storm of battle, and 
noticing how firmly they stood, and how bravely 
and grandly they breasted the waves of iron and 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 87 

leaden fury, asked ; " What stone wall is that 
standing there?" 

Everybody acquainted with the circumstances, 
admit that the 115th by their determined bravery, 
saved the whole Florida expedition from capture. 

GENERAL SEYMOUR 

was very unjustly censured by the mass of the peo 
ple north. 

He probably ought not to have fought the battle 
of Olustee with his small army, but we believe him 
to be a brave and a true man. 

The following extract from one of the Hilton 
Head papers places the matter in its true light. 

" We cannot say too much in praise of General 
Seymour s conduct in the fight. He handled the 
troops in a splendid manner, and directed the battle 
personally regardless of danger. When it was 
finally deemed prudent to retire, the whole force 
was withdrawn in the best order, with none of the 
confusion of a rout. The results of the engagement, 
embracing as they do, a forced retreat and the loss 
of many good men, are of course to be regretted, 
but we see nothing disheartening about them, and 
are happy to say that the morale of our troops re 
mains unimpaired, with a strong desire throughout 
the force to meet the enemy again on more equal 
terms." 



88 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

TERIIBLE SUFFERING AMONG THE WOUNDED. 

The poor fellows who were wounded had a terri 
ble time. All who desired to escape southern dun 
geons and the cruelties of the foe, were obliged to 
go a distance of nineteen miles without help. 

Many were badly wounded and could not stir, 
and they were left to the tender mercies of the 
enemy. 

For nearly three hours I escaped injury, and 
when I saw my comrades shot down around me 
and myself uninjured, I began to conclude that I 
was bullet proof. 

Suddenly a stinging sensation was felt in my 
right side, and I realized that I was wounded. I 
remained with the company a short time, but be 
ginning to grow faint I informed my captain and 
started for the rear. In a short time I came across 
a surgeon with about twenty wounded lying around 
him, and saw that he was engaged in the bloody 
work of amputation. 

Just then a cruel shell burst m their midst, and 
sent the mangled remains of several of them flying 
in all directions. 

I turned away from the sickening sight with 
horror. 

I next approached the quarter of our own sur 
geon, and found him surrounded by fifty wounded, 
his sleeves rolled up, his arms crimsoned with 
blood, and himself engaged in cutting out balls. 
With the stream of wounded men from difterent 
regiments I hurried on towards Sanderson. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 89 

Some lay down along the road and declared that 
they could go no farther. Others were fast bleed 
ing to death, and some fell down exhausted to die. 

At last I reached Sanderson, nine miles distant- 
Several of us who concluded that we could go no 
farther, went into a hotel and lay down on the floor.. 
A surgeon soon came in and said that unless we 
made all possible haste towards Barber s we would, 
all be captured, as the rebels were close by. 

We all concluded that it would be better to die- 
walking or even crawling towards freedom, than to 
starve to death in rebel dungeons ; so we moved 
off towards Barber s. 

A company of the 40th Massachusetts Mounted 
Infantry, came along and generally dismounted, 
helping thirty of our boys on their horses. This 
saved almost all of the party from capture. 

The animal which I rode carried me a mile with 
great difficulty, and then lay down in the mud to 
die. 

I started on again, when pretty shortly a mounted 
officer approached, and after enquiring my name, 
rank, and regiment, assisted me in mounting his 
horse which I rode two miles, when I was again 
forced to try the virtue of " shanks horses." 

I reached Barber s at 3 o clock in the morning, 
nearly dead, and found the remnant of the regi 
ment asleep. 

I sat down on a cracker box to warm myself by 
a camp fire, when I fainted away and pitched into 
it headlong*. There were but four cars at Barber s 



90 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

to carry the many hundreds of wounded, hut I was 
fortunate enough to get on one. 

The cars were terrihly crowded ; as many as 
seventy heing on a small platform, and several of 
us had to hang together to keep from falling off. 

They were drawn by mules and went very slowly. 
We were the whole of Sunday and until 12 o clock 
Sunday night reaching Jacksonville. 

Some of the poor fellows suffered badly. They 
had nothing to eat or drink, were so crowded that 
they could not sleep, and no chance to change their 
cramped and painful positions. 

At Jacksonville the wounded were all placed on 
hospital boats and sent to Hilton Head and Beau 
fort, one hundred and sixty miles away. 

COMMENTS OF THE UNION PRESS. 

The following are some of the comments of the 
press, in relation to the gallantry of the 115th Regi 
ment at Olustee. 

[From the N. Y. Tribune.] 

" Desperate assaults on the Union right failed to 
drive in the brave 115th N. Y., holding the ex 
tremity of the line. 

The genial and chivalrous Col. S. Sammons was 
wounded in the foot ; Major Walworth s shoulder 
strap was cut away by a bullet. They lost dread 
fully. Among the killed were Second Lieut. Shef- 
fer, Co. G, and Second Lieut. W. Tompkins, Co. C, 
Captain G. Van Derveer was wounded in the leg 
and breast ; Second Lieut. J. Davis, Co. A, was 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 91 

fatally wounded in the breast, and was left on the 
retreat at Sanderson to be treated by the rebels. 

Second Lieut. E. Smith, Co. B, got a shot in the 
right shoulder; Capt. W. W. French, Co. F, had 
his ancle shattered; Second Lieut. Clark, Co. H, 
was hurt in the shoulder. As an instance of what 
the 115th endured, Co. F may be cited. Out of 
fifty-nine men brought into the fight, three were 
killed and twenty-nine wounded. 

[From the Amsterdam Despatch. ] 
THE 115TH N. Y. VOLS. 

This noble band of heroes was sorely dealt with 
at the late " Seymour slaughter " in Florida. 

Joseph Allen, who was left behind the regiment 
at Hilton Head, writes : 

" I have been over to see Colonel Sammons, who 
is severely wounded in the foot ; he says the loss 
of the regiment is three hundred and four in killed, 
wounded and missing. The boys fought bravely 
and desperately, and the Colonel says, have the 
hearty commendation of the General commanding 
for their determined bravery. The regiment went 
into the fight with sixty rounds of cartridges, used 
them all and then sought a supply from their fallen 
comrades. 

[From the Mohawk Valley American.] 

From the letters received here we glean the fol 
lowing facts : 

Col. Sammons wounded in the foot. 



92 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Captain Van Derveer, Co. H, of this village, re 
ceived a flesh wound in the hip, in the early part 
of the engagement, but kept at his post until he 
was hit by a ball just inside of the left shoulder, 
which passed out near the spine, when he was car 
ried off the field on an army blanket. 

He is supposed to be mortally wounded. Lieut. 
John W. Davis was mortally wounded in the bow 
els ; the boys carried him seven miles, and then as 
he was dying left him on the field. 

[From the Troy Times. ] 

It is stated that the One Hundred and Fifteenth 
regiment, which was in the advance in the late 
Florida expedition, lost three hundred in killed, 
wounded and missing. Col. Simmeon Sammons 
was wounded in the ancle, and it is feared amputa 
tion may be necessary. Captain Van Derveer and 
Lieut. Davis, of Co. A, were badly wounded and 
left on the field. Captain French, Co. B, was 
wounded in the leg; and Lieut. Sheffer, of Co. Q-, 
was also killed with other non-commissioned offi 
cers. 

REBEL ACCOUNT. 

The following comments are from the rebel pa 
pers : 

[From the Tallahassee Floridian.~\ 

Some 200 Yankee wounded have been brought 
to this city since the battle of Olustee, mostly for 
eigners and negroes; the foreigners were miserable 
looking fellows, not a bit too good to be put on au 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 93 

equality with the negroes ; and in the hospital in 
every case, whites and negroes were laid side by 
side, in order to give the whites a taste of the 
equality they are fighting for. More than one 
thousand (?) dead bodies of Union soldiers have al 
ready been buried on the battle field, and the Con 
federate dead only numbered one hundred and 
thirty-five, exclusive of thirty who afterward died 
from their wounds. . General Gardner, command 
ing the Confederate troops in Seymour s battle, has 
assumed command of all the Confederate troops in 
Florida. 

\_From the Savannah Republican. ~\ 

A correspondent writes ; "I participated in the 
battles around Richmond and upon the Peninsula 
as I have in this, and have never witnessed a more 
stubbornly contested field. The engagement lasted 
upward of four hours, during about three of which, 
the enemy contested inch by inch very manfully, 
the advance of our troops." 

The Savannah Republican also stated, that a large 
number of amputations had been performed among 
the Yankee wounded at Tallahassee, and that a 
majority of those operated upon had died. 

ARRIVAL OF THE WOUNDED AT BEAUFORT. 

When a boat load of wounded arrived at Beau 
fort, the generals and surgeons were mostly at 
tending a ball ; and the following account from the 
Free South, shows that it affected the pleasure party : 
"Everything went merrily on until the news came 



94 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

of the arrival of the " Cosmopolitan 5&gt; with the 
wounded from Florida. Although war has har 
dened our hearts, and rendered us callous to its 
horrors in a great degree, yet few could look upon 
such a scene of festivity without heing struck with 
its incongruity, when within a few hundred yards 
of it lay groaning and dying men. 

Generals Gilmore and Saxton left the room and 
went aboard the Cosmopolitan, and upon consulta 
tion, it was thought best to close the ball at once. 
Though a great disappointment, it was borne with 
commendable patience by those who had devoted 
so much time, labor and money, in the affair. 

GENERAL SEYMOUR TO THE ARMY. 

After the battle, the following order was issued 
to the troops : 

Headquarters, District of Florida, 

Department of the South, 
Jacksonville, Fla., March 10, 1864. J 
General Orders, No. 13. 

The Brigadier General commanding, recurs with 
great satisfaction to the conduct of his troops in their 
late battle, and desires to convey to them in the 
most public manner, his full appreciation of their 
steadfast courage on that well contested field. 

Against superior numbers, holding a position 
chosen by themselves, you were all but successful. 

For four hours you stood face to face with the 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 95 

enemy, and when the battle ended, and it ceased 
only with night, you sent him cheers of defiance. 

In your repulse there was perhaps misfortune ; 
but neither disaster or disgrace ; and every officer 
and soldier may forever remember with just pride, 
that he fought at Olustee. 

By order of Brig. Gen. T. SEYMOUR. 
R. M. HALL, A. A. A. G. 

CO. H ON A SCOUT. 

For a long time Captain Smith had resolved to 
pay a visit to some rebels in the interior of eastern 
Florida; and on the morning of the 1st he concluded 
his arrangements, and succeeded in playing the 
"April fool" on the "Johnnies" in a praotical way. 

Early in the morning before the sun had crim 
soned the eastern sky, he selected twenty-five men 
from company H w 7 ho were armed with the de 
structive Spencer repeating rifle, and one of his 
most trusty native scouts, and embarked on a little 
gun-boat provided for the purpose. 

The object of the expedition was to endeavor to 
capture a rebel picket post, known to be stationed 
thirty-two miles from Piladka, far into the interior 
of the enemy s country. 

It was a very dangerous and risky undertaking, 
but the captain with just confidence in his own skill 
and the bravery and gallantry of his boys, was con 
fident of success. ; 

The little boat carried them safely through the 



96 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

river, up creeks and across small lakes, until they 
were within five miles of the place. 

It \vas now necessary to march to the point of 
attack ; and for that purpose they started forward 
in good spirits, and after wading through a dense 
swamp occupied by snakes and alligators only, at 
last came within sight of the post. The rebel guard 
were found to consist of cavalry, and were in the 
second story of a house, while all their horses and 
equipments were in a barn close by. 

The captain now went quietly at work and formed 
his men for the attack. They were thrown around 
the house in a circle so that none of the rebels could 
possibly escape. 

The horses were secured and taken a short dis 
tance into the woods. 

Everything now being ready, the order to move 
forward was given. 

The boys started with a wild yell, and closed in 
upon the house. The rebels were so surprised and 
terrified that before they recovered from their con 
sternation or had time to seize their loaded muskets 
standing against the wall, the boys charged up the 
stairs like a flash, and took the whole party pris 
oners. 

"Surrender!" they all cried. 

" We give in," replied the rebels. 

"April fool!" thundered all the boys in a single 
breath, gathering around the wondering rebels. 

" I thought the hull Yankee army was a eornin , 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 97 

and I reckon we re April fooled right smart," said 
one of the prisoners. 

"Three cheers for the Union !" suggested one of 
company II. It was given with a will. 

"What s this?" inquired another Union boy, 
holding up to view a sheet of dirty looking letter 
paper that had evidently just been written on. 

"It s a letter I reckon, Yank, an I was a writin 
on t when you ns come up here," answered a reb. 

"Well yes, I see," continued Union. "Let 
me see : you wrote that all was quiet along the 
lines, and the ink was n t dry on the paper when 
we were after you like a thousand of brick. Ha ! 
ha! ha!" 

From the appearance of things the captain be 
gan to think that some of the guard must be absent 
from the post; so selecting one of the prisoners he 
took him aside and said : 

" Sir, I am going to ask you a question, and your 
fate hangs on your answer; lie to me and your 
doom is sealed. Are not a part of your men ab 
sent?" 

"Well, captain, I don t dare to tell, for if they 
find out they 11 murder me." 

"JSTo sir; they shall never know it," said the 
captain, firmly. 

"W-e-1-1, yes I reckon they are," hesitatingly 
replied the prisoner. 

" How many of them are there ?" 

"A sergeant and one man, I reckon." 
9 



98 TIIE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

" "Where can they be found? Tell me the truth." 

"Won t ye r tell on me, capting?" 

"STo, sir." 

" Then I will tell yer, although I kinder reckon 
how I ort nt. They are up the road about two 
miles." 

Believing by his manner that he told the truth, 
our guide was dressed in the uniform of a Georgia 
cavalryman, mounted on one of the captured horses, 
and thus attired he started to look after the missing 
gentry, with a dozen of the boys "armed to the 
teeth" following on behind. 

Suddenly he came close to them in the road, and 
found them well armed and mounted. They took 
a hurried glance toward the guide, and observing 
that he rode one of their horses, and was dressed in 
grey the same as themselves, supposed that he was 
one of their own men, and allowed him to ride up 
very closely. 

The guide suddenly drew a revolver and cried at 
the top of his voice, " Surrender, you cowardly 
whelps, or I ll blow you into eternity in an in 
stant!" 

The argument was quite convincing, and just at 
that moment the boys came out of the woods with 
a noise that made the rebels think that a whole 
regiment was upon them. So they surrendered at 
once. 

" By heavens ! I ve got you now, you heartless 
rascal," said the guide, shaking his revolver under 
the nose of one of the prisoners. " You re the man 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 99 

who conscripted my brother and then murdered 
him because he tried to escape to freedom." 

"Don t be too fast, guide," said one of our boys, 
observing the rebel trembling with fear. 

"Yes," continued the guide, "you re the man 
who consigned me to prison, and drove my family 
beggars to the swamps. I ll have vengeance now ! " 
and he sprang upon his foe, but before he had a 
chance to draw a dagger, or cock a revolver, the 
boys had him secure. 

It was now time to be moving toward home; so 
after gathering up their traps, the procession moved 
off. They had captured one sergeant and nine men, 
with arms complete, and thirteen horses and equip 
ments. 

Upon reaching the boat the horses and prisoners 
were conveyed through a swamp for one mile and 
a half, where no white man had ever before trod 
den ; and more than all this, the horses were made 
to swim the St. John s river. 

On the way down, a valuable rebel mail was cap 
tured and taken along with the other captured pro 
perty. 

The scouting party reached Piladka at sundown 
with their prisoners and booty, much to the surprise 
of everybody. 

One of the company got lost in a swamp, and for 
three days and nights subsisted on sweet oranges 
and berries. He finally reached the St John s river, 
and getting upon a log, pushed out into the stream 
and floated for nearly thirty miles, escaping the 



100 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

rebels, alligators, and torpedoes, reaching Piladka 
safely with his gun and equipments. 

The general commanding issued the following 
order in relation to the expedition, and it was read 
before every regiment and detachment in Florida. 

Headquarters, District of Florida, 

Department of the South, 
Jacksonville, Fla., April 3d, 1864. 
General Orders, 2s o. 19. 

The Brigadier General commanding desires to 
make known to his command, the successful ac 
complishment of a daring and difficult expedition, 
by a detachment of twenty-five men of Co. II, 115th 
K Y. Vols., commanded by Capt. S. P. Smith, of 
the same regiment. This little party sent from 
Piladka to a point thirty-two miles from the post, 
surprised and captured a picket of the enemy, con 
sisting of one sergeant and nine men, with their 
arms, and thirteen horses and equipments complete. 
To bring off the horses it was necessary to swim 
the St. John s river, and force them for a mile and 
a half through a swamp previously considered im 
practicable. The energy, intrepidity and skill 
with which this expedition was conducted, demands 
the praise of the commander of this district, and 
the imitation of troops hereafter detached on simi 
lar expeditions. 

By Command of 

Brig. Gen. J. P. HATCH. 



THE IRON HEARTED RBS-MBNT: -101 

JOURNAL. 

February 24, to April 13. -From the 24th of 
February to the 9th of March, the 115th remained 
in the vicinity of Jacksonville, skirmishing fre 
quently with the powerful rebel force in front of 
the Union army, and aiding in checking their 
advance. 

On the evening of the 9th they embarked on a 
transport with other troops, sailed seventy miles 
up the St. John s river, through a terrible thunder 
storm, passing torpedoes and rebel batteries in 
safety, and occupied the old U. S. military post at 
Piladka on the morning of the 10th, without oppo 
sition. 

While at Piladka they did an immense amount 
of hard work of various kinds. 

Several skirmishes were had with the rebels, and 
a portion of the regiment scoured that part of the 
state, rescuing hundreds of Union men, women 
and children, from the swamps. 

They also hunted down rebel conscription agents, 
captured rebel mails, picked up stray rebel soldiers, 
and kept the rebel camp in constant commotion. 

April 13. Orders received to evacuate the town. 
The troops engaged in packing up. 

April 14. Troops began to embark at daylight. 
All the Union refugees were placed on boats, so 
that they could accompany the army. Just before 
dark, the 115th being deployed as skirmishers to 
cover the evacuation, company H fired the breast 
works, and under the cover of night the whole fleet 
sailed for Jacksonville, protected by gun-boats. 



102 TEfc Ik&N HEARTED REGIMENT. 



April 15. We reached Jacksonville at 10 A. M. 
The General Hunter, one of our boats, was 
blown up by a rebel torpedo, and two lives lost. 

We camped in one of the city squares, cooked 
four days rations, and received one hundred rounds 
of ammunition each. Embarked on board a trans 
port at dark, and lay at the dock until the next 
morning. 

April 16. Sailed at 10 A. M., the band playing 
" To the Mississippi I am going." 

April 17. Reached Hilton Head at daylight. 
The troops left the vessel and marched to the 
beach, where arms were stacked. The regiment 
engaged in changing baggage and stores to a larger 
vessel. Officers ordered to leave behind all trunks. 
Camped on the ground at night. 

April 18. The 115th and three other regiments 
are crowded on board the steamer Northern 
Light, and on their way to Fortress Monroe. 
General Terry is on board, and he has summoned 
the officers together, telling them to allow no 
smoking during the voyage, as fire is our greatest 
enemy, and in case of fire nothing can save a great 
portion of those on board the vessel from destruc 
tion. 

April 19. Sea rough. Officers and men mostly 
all sea sick. Drifted one hundred miles out of our 
course at night. Have not left my bunk for forty 
hours. 

April 20. Passed the light-house off Fortress 
Monroe. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 103 

April 21. Reached Fortress Monroe in the 
morning. Sailed to Gloucester Point, opposite 
Yorktown, and at 4 p. M. were conveyed to the 
shore on ferry boats. "We encamped at night on 
a rise of ground back from the river. The hills 
are all white with tents belonging to the 10th Army 
Corps. 

April 22 to 30. On the 22nd engaged in pitch 
ing tents and making ourselves comfortable. On 
the 23rd the regiment worked hard in unloading 
boats. From the 24th to the 29th the whole army 
was constantly drilling. All camp and garrison 
equippage, and old tents, were sent to Norfolk for 
storage, and the men received shelters. Fifty sail 
ors from the 115th enlisted in the navy. On the 
29th the best regiment in the brigade was ordered 
on picket, and the 115th was complimented by 
being selected. 

April 30. 10th Corps reviewed by General But 
ler. The troops looked splendidly and the line is 
three miles in length. Ordered to keep four days 
cooked rations constantly on hand. 

May 4. Marching orders. The 10th Corps have 
been all day and all night embarking. The 115th 
managed to get a place in the fleet at midnight, 
after waiting seven hours in the cold. 

May 5. The great fleet composed of five iron 
clads, twenty gunboats, ninety-two transports, 
forty-two schooners, and seventy canal boats arid 
barges, containing the army of the James, sailed at 
daylight to Fortress Monroe, thence up the James 



104 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

river to City Point and Bermuda Hundreds, which 
places were occupied by the Union forces. 

May 6. "We landed at Bermuda Hundreds this 
morning and lay for a couple of hours in a wheat 
field. A rebel Signal Corps was captured. Took 
up the line of march at noon. The day was hot, 
and the soldiers suffered severely. Almost all of 
the men threw away their blankets, overcoats, 
spare shoes and knapsacks, and the road was com 
pletely carpeted with army blankets ; while negroes 
and rebels drew them away by the load. I saw 
one man have a wagon box full of new shoes. At 
one place the woods were burning, and the regi 
ment was obliged to walk between two walls of 
fire. Halted in the evening in a large corn field 
and camped for the night. 



CHAPTER V. 

BATTLE OF CHESTERFIELD HEIGHTS. 

On the morning of May 7th, Barton s Brigade 
(ours) received orders to cut the Petersburg!! and 
Richmond rail road at Port Walthall Junction. 

We left camp early in the morning, leaving be 
hind all who were unable to march. 

The brigade was in light fighting order, and 
marched over the dusty roads and through the hot 
sun quite rapidly. 

After a great amount of marching and counter 
marching, we finally reached a point near the rail 
road. 

The rebels held a strong position on the side of 
Chesterfield Heights with their artillery planted on 
the crest of the hill. They were there to prevent 
us from tearing up the track, and under orders to 
hold their ground at all hazards. 

At one o clock our skirmishers advanced and 
encountered the enemy s picket. We then moved 
up, and as soon as the enemy caught sight of our 
column, they opened upon us with artillery. We 
pressed forward and at last gained a position in a 
dense piece of woods on a hill fronting the rebels, 
suffering a slight loss. 

Our men took posts behind trees and stumps, and 



106 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

"peppered" the rebels pretty lively, and soon sent 
their skirmish line flying back to the main army. 

As the rebel line was wavering, one of their gen 
erals, accompanied by his entire staff, dashed fear 
lessly in front of his men, and encouraged them to 
stand their ground. A few well directed shots from 
our side emptied three of the saddles, when the re 
mainder of the party galloped away at full speed. 

The 115th now received orders to engage the ene 
my at long range, while the remainder of the brig 
ade proceeded to destroy the track. 

For that purpose we moved out of the woods and 
formed line of battle in the open field. In an in 
stant the rebels were sweeping down Chesterfield 
Heights on a charge. They came with their usual 
barbarous yell, and their dirty stars and bars led 
the advance. 

The 115th coolly formed to resist the advancing 
host, and in a moment were all ready to meet the 
shock of battle. But the rebels were approaching 
the rail road, and their advance must be checked 
before they reach it. The 115th prepared to make 
a counter charge. "Forward double quick! 
guide center march!" was the order. 

With deafening cheers the regiment dashed down 
the steep hill to meet the rebel column. The ene 
my were not prepared for such a bold movement on 
our part, and when they saw our splendid line rush 
ing toward them with almost lightning speed and 
within pistol shot, they seemed thunderstruck, and 
began to waver and hesitate, and soon came to a 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 107 

dead halt. They evidently thought it would be a 
shock of steel to steel, so they dropped upon their 
knees to receive our furious onset. But they were 
mistaken and outwitted again, for we did not in 
tend to use the bayonet unless they reached the 
track; so when we came to the ditch, every man 
in the regiment dropped flat upon the ground in an 
instant, the high rail road bank serving as a breast 
work. 

The rebels now began to blaze away furiously, 
but the most of their balls went harmlessly over 
our heads, and but few were Jhit. Their artillery 
did some better execution. 

FEARFUL SLAUGHTER. 

Our boys loaded as they lay upon the ground 
and then rose up to fire. The bullets sped uner 
ringly into the rebel ranks, and the slaughter 
among them was terrible. Their killed and 
wounded strewed the ground, and each moment 
our fire was more deadly than before. 

They could stand it no longer ; so after twenty 
minutes of the bloody work had passed, they 
brought up reinforcements and soon had our little 
regiment of two hundred and fifty men flanked 
right and left. Here was a bad fix, and we hoped 
that reinforcements would come to us also, but 
none appeared. 

It seemed utterly impossible for any of us to es 
cape death or capture ; but we moved quickly by 
the right flank, .and with a furious rush broke 



108 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

through, suffering a loss of eighty men. Thus 
ended the hattle. 

Our forces had destroyed the track, burned the 
bridge, and accomplished all that was intended, so 
it was of course a victory for the Union army. 

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE. 

Our entire loss was 90 men, while the rebel loss 
was 250 in killed and wounded in front of the 115th 
alone ; as many men as we had in the entire regi 
ment. 

A rebel captain, captured, asked what regiment 
it was that engaged them ? (the 115th) When told, 
he said that they never encountered such a wither 
ing fire before. 

Our heaviest loss took place while we were cross 
ing a rail fence. The rebels got an oblique fire on 
the line, and as many as forty were hit in five min 
utes time. The staff was cut off from the stars and 
stripes, the glorious folds were riddled with balls, 
and one of the brave color sergeants fell wounded 
in the leg. "Hang on to the flag, boys, hang on 
to the flag," he shouted as he fell. They did hang 
on to it, and never suffered it to trail in the dust, 
but waved it in triumph while three color corporals 
were shot under its stars of freedom. 

On the charge, a piece of shell killed Major Wal- 
rath s horse, tore one of Sergeant Bright s shoulders 
from his body, and cut a private soldier into halves. 

Many of our boys fell with frightful wounds, but 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 109 

we knew that many more of the rebels were piled 
up on the field. 

The most remarkable thing about the engage 
ment was the fact that company H did not lose a 
single man. They carried the flags, and were as 
much exposed as any, still death did not visit them. 
Company A, on their right, lost nine men ; and 
company G, on their left, lost thirteen ; company 
H, none. 

Some of the rebels were dressed in blue uniforms, 
and several times during the engagement we were 
startled with the cry, " We re firing into our own 
men! We re firing into our own men!" But we 
soon saw into their ruse, and treated them with a 
double dose of lead. 

The heat during the day was intense, and as many 
as one fourth of the men were sun-struck. A great 
many were carried away in ambulances. "We reached 
our camp at night and slept soundly. 

A party that went to bury our dead the next day 
found them all stripped of their clothing and their 
bodies used in the most horrible manner by the 
rebels. 

BATTLE OF OLD CHURCH. 

On the 9th of May the battle of Old Church was 
fought. A column of rebel troops, said to number 
10,000, attacked a portion of the 10th Corps for the 
purpose of forcing their way through to Richmond. 
The battle raged with more or less fury during 
most of the day, but by far the hardest fighting 
10 



110 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

took place in the morning. The rebels charged re 
peatedly, and were each time repulsed with loss. 
They attempted a flank movement, but were driven 
from the field at all points. 

The enemy made a desperate charge on the 4th 
New Jersey Battery, and captured all but one gun. 

The 13th Indiana and 6th Connecticut counter 
charged, and after severe fighting recaptured them. 

THE WOODS ON FIRE. 

To add to the horrors of the battle field, a great 
fire was sweeping like a dreadful tornado through 
the woods, and piles of rebel killed and wounded 
were burning up. 

The rebel shell set our woods on fire, and for a 
long time the ravages of this new enemy could not 
be stayed. 

The 115th was fighting the fire with all its 
might, and at last stopped its onward march. At 
one time it threatened to destroy our artillery and 
cut off a portion of our army from the main body, 
but the boys went to work with shovels, pine 
boughs, and water, and speedily changed its course. 

The rebels could not contend against our army 
and the sea of fire any longer, so they sent a flag of 
truce requesting a cessation of hostilities for an hour, 
that they migt rescue their wounded from a terrible 
death. For the sake of humanity the request was 
granted, and an officer who visited the scenes, said 
he had visited many fields of carnage, but never be 
fore saw such sickening sights and so many horrors. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. Ill 

The very air was freighted with the awful perfume 
of roasted men. 

The rebel officers told their men before the battle 
that they would have five miles of country from the 
Yankees before night, or loose their last man. 

The evening s loss in killed, wounded and pris 
oners, was said to be 2,000. Our loss was 123 in 
killed, wounded and missing. 

Some prisoners captured were so hungry that 
they dug hard-tack from the dirt and ate it down 
ravenously. 

BATTLE OF WEIR BOTTOM CHURCH. 

On the morning of May 12th, the army of the 
James began a forward movement in the direction 
of Richmond. Heavy fighting took place during 
the entire day, and the rebels contested the ground 
inch by inch ; by night they had been driven back 
a distance of three miles. It rained during the day 
and night, and the soldiers were wet to the skin. 

The night was cold and stormy, and the regi 
ment lay on their arms in the open field suffering 
considerably. 

MORE FIGHTING. 

On the 13th the regiment advanced at daylight, 
and the rebels continued to fall back towards Fort 
Darling. 

At 3 p. M., the regiment were in front of the 
powerful line of rebel works near Drury s Bluff , 
and more or less fighting took place during the 
afternoon and night. 



112 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

The 18th Corps and the 2nd Division (ours) of 
the 10th formed in front of the rebel works, while 
General Terry with the other two divisions of the 
10th Corps flanked the works on the left. 

The 115th marched within pistol shot of the ene 
my s rifle pits, and formed line of battle under 
cover of the dense woods. 

Companies II and K were thrown out as skir 
mishers, and moved within a few yards of the rifle 
pits, shooting down some of the sentinels on duty. 

The men fortified temporarily with chips and 
logs, and after placing a heavy detachment in front 
to engage the enemy, the remainder of the regiment 
laid down until morning. 

BATTLE OF DRURY s BLUFF. 

At daylight on the 14th of May, a detachment 
under Captain S. P. Smith entered the first line of 
the enemy s works, and were surprised to find the 
forts and rifle pits evacuated for two miles. 

The entire rebel force now occupied two large 
forts near Proctor s Creek, and seemed resolved to 
hold them at all hazards. They threw out a very 
heavy skirmish line to hold our troops in check. 

The Union army formed double lines of battle 
extending from Proctor s Creek on the right, to 
Drury s BlufT on the left, and threw out an immense 
skirmish line of 5,000 men. 

That was the loud signal for the battle, and from 
sunrise to sunset there was one continued rattle of 
musketry and thunder of cannon. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Full twenty times during the day the heavy Un 
ion line swept like an avalanche up to the enemy s 
batteries, driving the rebels before them like chaff 
before the wind, and twenty times they retired 
drawing overwhelming numbers after them. 

The boys in the 115th fought with spirit, and in 
flicted severe loss among the rebels. At the close of 
the day s work one hundred and fifty rounds of am 
munition had been fired on an average. The boys 
faces were black with powder, and their gun locks* 
blue with heat. Several times in the tangled wil 
derness a hand to hand fight took place, our men 
always holding their ground. 

MIXED UP WITH A REBEL REGIMENT. 

At one time a portion of the 115th got mixed up 
with a Georgia rebel regiment, when a rebel officer 
addressed Lieutenant Olney, commanding our de 
tachment as follows : 

"Are you the 61st Georgia, sir?" 

"Not by a great sight. Give it to them, boys!" 
said Lieut. Olney waving his sword, 

" Surrender ! " shouted the rebel officer with fury. 

"Fever !" responded the Lieutenant firmly. 

The boys obeyed the command of their gallant 
Lieutenant and soon drove the rebels from the field. 

THE BOYS CHARGE ON THEIR OWN HOOKS. 

"Now for a bully charge right up to the teeth of 
Johnnie Reb s fort," shout all the men. "For 
ward double quick march !" Pop! pop! bang! 
bang ! bang ! and the rebels are falling. 



114 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Three of the doomed men fall before the wither 
ing fire of the 115th, and lay in one common pile. 

One is on his knees, but not praying or supli- 
cating for mercy ; he is too proud for that. South 
ern blood runs in his veins. 

John Lappions, impulsive boy, seizes him by the 
hair of his head and jerks him over backward to 
the ground. 

" For God s sake don t murder me," shrieked 
the wounded man. 

"We don t intend to, and I should not have 
touched you, did I know that you were hurt. Here 
comes some of our boys to carry you from the 
field," said John. 

"I ll never go," gasped the dying rebel. " Sooner 
than be carried to your Yankee lines, I will die 
where I lay." 

"If you wont help yourself we will help yon, and 
we re carrying you from the field at the risk of our 
own lives," remarked several of the boys as they 
bore him from the field through the storm of bul 
lets. 

He saw the stars and stripes, and closed his eyes 
in death. 

Yonder lies another rebel, and he is stone dead, 
poor fellow. See where the bullet tore through his 
head, and look at the blood trickling down his 
cheek. He has a watch in his vest pocket, and a 
pocket-book in another, and a piece of pork care 
fully wrapped up is all it contains. 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 115 

A third rebel is wounded in the leg, and asks to 
be taken to the hospital. 

A brave corporal of company A is shot in the 
breast, and something tells him that he must die. 
The stretcher corps rush amid the dangers of the 
field, and soon carry him to the rear. On the way 
he observes some members of his own company, 
and raising up on an elbow, said : " Good bye, 
boys, good bye." It was his last farewell, for he 
soon died. 

Our loss during the day in killed and wounded 
was nearly forty men. 

There were but few killed, owing to the fact that 
our boys fired mostly from behind trees. 

The entire Union and rebel losses must have been 
quite heavy. 

We were relieved from the front at 8 p. M., and 
moved a short distance to the rear torest. 

SUNDAY AT DRURY S BLUFF. 

May 15. It is Sunday, and we are having a little 
rest for our weary bones. 

A great deal of firing along the lines, and very 
little respect shown for the sacred day. 

We tore down some rebel barracks, and built 
pasteboard shanties to protect us from the rain. 
At noon the chaplain took a position in the centre 
of our camp, made a few remarks, and offered a 
prayer to heaven, asking God s blessing upon us. 
All listened attentively, and the hour was one of 
great solemnity. 



116 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

A few shell went hissing over our heads, and the 
bullets passed us pretty often. JSTone of us were 
hit. We had a very large prayer meeting at night, 
the best one I ever attended. Nearly every Chris 
tian in the regiment was present. About forty of 
our best soldiers testified that they were ready to 
die for their country. Many of them soon went to 
their long home. The songs of praise must have 
struck the ears of our enemies ; they were working 
with all their might. Cars came day and night 
with reinforcements. They had to drive us from 
that place or lose their capital. 

Our generals said that they would attack us in 
the morning. All the Union army were in line 
awaiting the onset. 

BATTLE OF PROCTOR S CREEK. 

May 16th adds another to the already fearfully 
long list of bloody battles. It adds a fresh river to 
the vast ocean of blood. 

During the past twenty-four hours the rebels have 
received many thousands of reinforcements from 
Richmond and Lee s army, and as expected, at 
tacked us about daylight. The dawn of day ap 
peared, and with it a dense fog which hung like a 
black funeral pall over our army. That was the 
signal of our defeat. It told us we could not hold 
our position, it battled against us as it did against 
the rebels at Spottsylvania. We could not use a 
piece of our splendid artillery, or get sight of the 
foe until they were at arms length. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 117 

The rebels formed in eight and sixteen lines of 
battle, and crazy with gunpowder and whiskey, 
charged our line desperately and repeatedly at all 
points, and at last succeeded in breaking through, 
forcing our troops to retreat. 

The Union loss was about 3,000 in killed, 
wounded and missing, and the rebel loss amounted 
to several thousand. The exact loss of the rebels 
will never be known, but it is said to have been 
from five to seven thousand men. 

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE. 

The 118th New York had strung a telegraph 
wire in front of their position, for the purpose of 
having the rebels stumble over it, should they 
attack. The rebel column came up with fearful 
yells and with mighty power, when all at once 
their front rank stumbled and fell over the invisi 
ble wire, [and their comrades in the rear soon came 
piling on top of them. 

The 118th instantly poured a deadly fire of mus 
ketry into their prostrate and broken ranks, and 
heaps of dead and wounded rebels lay before them, 
while those who escaped staggered with terror 
back to their own line to tell the terrible story. 

The rebels took General Heckman and a portion 
of his brigade prisoners, and we took several hun 
dred rebels, including a colonel, major, and several 
captains and lieutenants. 



118 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

FIGHT AT PORT WALTIIALL JUNCTION. 

The battle had barely commenced at Drury s 
Bluff when a large force of rebel infantry and 
eighteen pieces of artillery appeared at Port Walt- 
hall Junction, for the purpose of attacking Butler 
in the rear and to cut off his communications. 

Having but few troops there, Gen. Smith decided 
to send the 115th to reinforce them. We received 
orders to report to Gen. Smith, in rear of the 
Eighteenth Corps line. 

To reach there we were obliged to march a long 
distance through a severe fire which was enough 
to try the metal of the oldest veterans. We moved 
by the flank as steadily and coolly as possible, suf 
fering a loss of but five men. 

While moving through a piece of woods we 
suddenly tramped upon a Wisconsin regiment 
lying iii a ditch. At first they supposed we were 
retreating and were about to follow suite, when our 
bo} r s informed them that we were only going to 
report to General Smith. They remained in their 
position. 

We finally reached the place where General 
Smith and several other generals were looking 
toward the battle-field. A bullet struck General 
Brooks s horse and he rolled over dead. The reb 
els sent plenty of shells after us, but none did any 
execution. We reported to General Smith, and he 
placed us under command of General Ames, who 
told us to follow him. He rode fast, and we fol- 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 119 

lowed at a double quick for seven miles, when 
we reached the scene of operations at Port Walt- 
hall Junction. Here we saw a beautiful sight. 
The rebel lines of battle were formed on a side 
hill, with an abundance of artillery and a long skir 
mish line thrown out in front, as if all was ready 
to advance. To meet this formidable force, we had 
but four small regiments of infantry. The 115th 
and 169th N. Y., the 13th Indiana and 58th Penn 
sylvania. 

For the purpose of making a good show of 
strength and of deceiving the rebels. General Ames 
ordered the entire force to deploy as skirmishers. 
Our lines extended through the valley and over the 
hills, presenting a front long enough to cover 10,000 
troops. As we had hoped, the rebels took the bait ; 
they concluded we had a large army, and dared not 
attack. They shelled us pretty lively for some 
time, but finally drew in their skirmish line and 
retreated. 

Thus Butler s army was saved from an attack in 
the rear. 

At night we marched back to the entrenchments 
and laid down on the ground entirely exhausted. 
It seemed as though every bone in our bodies would 
break. 

The bands all played, and the men all cheered 
as though an empire had been conquered. 



120 THE IROX HEARTED REGIMENT. 

THE REBELS CHARGE DESERTERS AND PRISONERS. 

At 10 o clock oil the 18th, the rebels charged the 
1st Virginia Colored Cavalry, and sent them flying 
inside our works. Heavy skirmishing raged along 
the lines the entire day, and the losses on both 
sides were quite heavy. Our brigade lay massed 
near the works during the day," and labored all 
night with the shovel, pick and axe. Rebel desert 
ers who came in during the day said that orders 
were issued by the rebel generals to storm our 
works at sundown. For some reason best known 
to themselves, they wisely concluded to let out the 
bloody job. 

A party of men were sent by the rebels to erect 
a battery a short distance from our lines. They 
began operations, when our men discovered them, 
and one of our pieces opened with solid shot, 
making the spot so hot that they could not stand it 
or get away. The whole squad, numbering four 
teen, hoisted a white flag and surrendered without 
further ceremony. 

Some of the rebel bullets came more than a mile, 
killing and wounding soldiers in their tents. 

UNION AND REBEL CHARGES. 

At midnight on the 20th, the rebels made a furi- 

O 

ous onset on our lines and were gallantly repulsed. 
"We were trying to get asleep when the alarm 
sounded, but were soon under arms and on a 
double quick for the front. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 121 

At daylight the battle opened again with great 
fury, and lasted the entire day. The rebels seemed 
determined to break our lines, and made several 
desperate charges for that purpose. 

They carne down with their dismal " yi, yi, ya, ya, ? 
but were always repulsed with loss. Our artillery 
fire was most furious and effective. Shell and solid 
shot fell among the rebels like rain drops as our 
boys drove them back. Our army also made sev 
eral charges on the enemy s works, but were re 
pulsed with some loss. 

THE 115th SELECTED TO STORM A BATTERY. 

Col. Barton received orders to send his best regi 
ment to do a desperate piece of work. As usual, 
he selected the 115th, and we moved outside the 
works to make a bayonet charge. The bullets flew 
around us pretty fast, and we lay flat on the ground 
to avoid them while our Lieut. Col. examined the 
position w r e were expected to assault. He rode up 
to our skirmish line and was intently observing the 
rebels, when a bullet struck his horse in the breast 
killing him almost instantly. Gen. Ames now 
reached the field to direct the movement. He 
turned toward us and said. 

" What regiment is that ?" 

"The one hundred and fifteenth New York," 
replied several of the men. 

" Why," said the general in surprise, "you are 
only a good sized color guard ; such a small body 
of men as that going to make this charge ? " 
11 



122 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

We were then ordered on the skirmish line, and 
the 97th Pennsylvania were brought up to do the 
work. They started, and when half-way across an 
open field a masked battery of fourteen guns was 
brought to bear upon them, sweeping out the centre 
of the regiment like so much chaff. 

They still pressed on, but were finally compelled 
to fall back, suffering a loss of over one hundred 
men. 

The 115th was exposed to a severe fire while 
we lay in the woods, but fortunately the bullets 
went about a foot above our heads, cutting off limbs 
and splintering trees. 

Had they fired six inches lower the most of us 
would have been hit. 

On the right, Howell s brigade was forming for 
a charge, when a strange officer suddenly appeared 
among them, and waving his sword as though he 
was a Union officer, said hurriedly : "Hold on, don t 
move till I bring you reinforcements !" and then 
dashed off towards the rebel line. 

Howell s veterans had seen too many officers to 
be fooled by a rebel, so they raised their guns and 
fired a whole volley after the retreating horseman, 
and horse and rider both fell. 

Upon going to the spot the stranger was found 
to be no less a personage than General Walker, of 
the rebel army. 

He had been examining our position with a view 
to attack, when he ran across our men. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 123 

He took the above method to escape, but got 
out-Yankeed. His right leg was shattered, and his 
boot was full of blood, while a couple of balls had 
pierced his arms. I walked along with the Ambu- 
lence Corps who were carrying him to the hospital. 
At one time a train of ambulances passed by, filled 
with wounded men. As soon as they saw the rebel 
general they began to sing out "Kill the rebel!" 
" Throw him off the stretcher !" " They re the chaps 
who keep up the war; if he was a private we d 
have sympathy for him, but he is a leader !" 

The general kept his eyes shut, and said not a 
word ; not even a groan escaped his lips. 

May 21. The rebels charged our first line of 
works at midnight. Our infantry allowed them to 
come up very close, and suddenly greeted them with 
a heavy volley of musketry. The artillery on both 
sides instantly began to thunder, and for half an 
hour the most terrific cannonading shook the earth. 
Hot shot, bursting shells, rockets, and rebel caissons 
blown up by our fire, illuminated the heavens, and 
the music of bugles and drums rolled along from 
the James to the Appomattox. The rebels were 
disastrously repulsed. 

May 22. One of our heavy parrots paid its com 
pliments to the rebels to day. The Johnnies call 
the shells Yankee camp kettles. 

May 24. The rebels have platforms erected in 
trees, and to day picked several of our men off who 
were working on the breastworks. The regiment 
moved up to the front. 



124 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

May 25. For the first in a long time the pickets 
did not try to kill each other. The rebels left their 
guns standing against trees and leisurely read 
newspapers in full view of the Yankees. 

May 26. The regiment is temporarily attached 
to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 18th Corps. 

May 28. Broke camp at 4 p. M. and took up the 
line of march at dark, reaching City Point at day 
light on the 29th. 

May 29. The 115th and 47th N. Y., and 76th 
Pa., embarked 011 the fine steamer De Molay, of 
Boston. The entire 18th Corps sailed for Fortress 
Monroe. 

May 30. Sailed up the York river to "West 
Point, thence up the Pamunkey to White House 
Landing, where we landed, forming a junction with 
the left wing of the army of the Potomac. 

May 31. After obtaining a supply of hard-tack 
and a little sleep we moved in the direction of Coal 
Harbor. We marched at a rapid rate until two 
hours before daylight on the 1st of June, when we 
halted for a short time in a plowed field. The 
road was strewn with Sheridan s dead cavalry horses, 
and the stench was almost beyond endurance. 

BATTLE OF COAL HARBOR. 

At sunrise on the morning of June 1st, although 
hungry and worn out, we got under motion again 
and marched rapidly until 4 p. M. At noon some 
of the men went a quarter of a mile for water, and 
on returning proceeded to make coffee, but before 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 125 

it was ready the bugle sounded the advance and 
we moved on sorrowfully without it. For some 
reason we got on the wrong road and marched 
twelve miles for nothing. 

Upon reaching Coal Harbor we found the army 
of the Potomac in line of battle, awaiting the arri 
val of the 18th Corps to aid them in storming the 
enemy s works. 

The 115th were badly used up, and a large num 
ber of the men lay along the dusty road and under 
the burning rays of the southern sun, utterly una 
ble to move ; yet in that condition they took a glo 
rious part in one of our great battles. 

They formed in the third line of battle and were 
considered as on the reserve, but as usual, had to 
take a hand in before the affair was ended. 

At about 5 o clock the troops were all in position, 
and the 6th and 18th Corps attacked with considera 
ble desperation. 

Drake s brigade which led the attack in our im 
mediate front were repulsed with heavy loss, and 
their commander killed. Instead of the second 
line rushing into the breach as they ought to have 
done, the 115th with Barton s brigade were ordered 
to advance. Without waiting to unsling knapsacks, 
or fix bayonets, we started forward with a long, 
loud cheer, on the charge. 

The boys felt ugly and were determined to make 
a big fight, and to reach the enemy s works. "With 
nags in the advance, we rushed through a piece of 



126 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

woods and over an open plowed field three quar 
ters of a mile wide, tramped upon the second line 
who lay in a ditch, allowed the broken ranks of 
Drake s brigade to pass through, and with a pro 
longed cheer of victory, without firing a gun, broke 
the rebel line, scaled their works, planted our co 
lors on their heights, and with only one hundred 
and twenty-five muskets, captured two hundred and 
fifty prisoners. 

The remainder of the brigade were unable to 
break through, and all the Union assaults on our 
front were repulsed excepting that made by the lit 
tle remnant of the 115th, and the gallant 14th New 
Jersey. The rebels finding their line broken, and 
not being aware of the small body of men who did 
it, evacuated the whole line, and the 115th N. Y. 
and 14th N. J. won the victory for the Union army. 

General Deveris who saw the charge, declared 
openly and on the spot that the 115th covered them 
selves with glory, and won the day. 

The rebels captured, said they thought the whole 
Yankee army were charging their front, and they 
were sure we carried seven shooters because our 
bayonets were not fixed. 

They were sorry that they surrendered when 
they found out our real force. 

The following extract from the New York Times 
will give the reader some idea of the charge : 

" General Smith ordered the charge to be made 
by Colonel Drake s brigade, supported by Colonel 
Barton s (ours), both of Devin s division. The 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 127 

order was gallantly obeyed. Drake urged Ms 
troops across at double quick, and they did not 
waver, although shocking gaps were made in their 
line by the heavy cross fire of the enemy s artillery. 
Upon gaining the edge of the woods, the rebel 
infantry were found to have fallen back a hundred 
yards to their rifle pits, which were strongly pro 
tected by slashings and entanglements. The sur 
vivors of this desperate charge found themselves 
unable to cope with the force in front of them. 
Barton s brigade here threw itself into the breach. 
Emerging from the woods on our side of the field, 
in as straight a line as though formed for dress 
parade, the word was given to charge at double 
quick. 

" The men went forward splendidly, preserving 
their alignment perfectly, as they skipped over the 
furrowed ground, closing up the vacancies made by 
the sweeping cross fire, gaining the woods, opening 
their ranks for the partially exhausted fellows of 
Drake s brigade to pass rearward, and with a fierce 
hurrah, dashed unshrinkingly into the rifle pits, 
taking two hundred and fifty prisoners." 



CHAPTER VI. 

SIEGE OF THE CHICKAHOMINY. 

June 2. Under a heavy cross fire until 8 A. M., 
when we were relieved. At 5 p. M. the 115th took 
the front again, and held the skirmish line at night. 

June 3. At dusk the rebels made a charge on 
the 6th Corps front, and were repulsed, with the 
loss of prisoners, and many killed and wounded. 

June 5. Heavy firing day and night. Two 
killed and two wounded during the day. 

June 6. Heavy and continuous skirmishing 
during the entire day. One of Berdan s men 
dropped a rebel flag in our front, three times in 
succession. Large reinforcements of heavy artil 
lery arrived from Washington, by way of Port 
Royal, Va. The rebels made furious onset on our 
line at 8 P. M., and as usual in such cases, were 
repulsed with slaughter. 

Our artillery swept their whole line with grape 
and cannister doing much damage. 

After the enemy were repulsed our boys sent 
over cheers of defiance, and the different corps and 
division bands played the pleasant strains of vic 
tory, which did not please the Johnnies, so they 
undertook to shell the musicians out. 

One thousand wounded from our corps were 
taken to White House in army wagons. 



THE IRON HEAETED REGIMENT. 129 

One man was mortally wounded in the 115th. 

June 1. Regiment at the front. m Heavy skir 
mishing and some artillery firing. Grant busy in 
fortifying. The enemy came in with a flag of truce 
in the afternoon, and requested a cessation of hos 
tilities for two hours, that they might bury their 
dead. The request was granted, and each side 
proceeded to bury their killed, while both armies 
mounted their respective breastworks and looked 
on earnestly. 

It is said that General Lee sent his compliments 
to General Grant with a bottle of wine to wash 
them down ; but that is rather doubtful. 

During the day the enemy had a band in the 
works, which played various southern airs ; so to 
make things all square, one of our best bands was 
dispatched to our outer works, and there, amid 
showers of lead rolled off some fine pieces. 

The first piece struck up was " Aint I glad to get 
out of the wilderness." The rebels took that as an 
imputation against their fighting at the battle of 
the wilderness, and immediately began to howl 
dismally, and kept it up until the piece was through. 

The next piece was Dixie, which pleased the 
rebels amazingly, and they cheered all along their 
lines, while our men groaned to a man. 

The favorite southern air (?) John Brown was 
next in the programme, and of course the grey- 
backs groaned, while our boys made the woods 
ring again with cheers. 

At midnight there was a heavy engagement on 
our left. Enemy repulsed. 



130 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

I lay in the woods to day at the foot of a large 
pine, sick an&lt;| worn out. 

Shells burst all around me, and cannon halls cut 
off the trees over my head ; hut thank God, I es 
caped injury. 

I saw one of General Ames s staff officers struck 
with a solid shot within a few feet of me. He fell 
with his leg badly shattered, and crying, "Oh ! Oh ! 
carry me off, carry me off ! " A shell exploded on 
my left, killing two and wounding three. 

Our surgeon visited me and left some powders. 
Received and read a letter from home which did 
me more good than all the medicine. 

The rebels charged our skirmish line and left one 
of their captains stuck in the mud, and our boys 
took charge of him. 

At dark I found myself looking rather scaly. 
Shoes full of holes and can t purchase any new 
ones ; pants badly torn while making the charge 
on the rebel works; coat dirty and greasy, and 
sword rusty from active service. 

The poor wounded fellows were killed in our 
corps hospital to day by shell. It is the heigh th 
of danger to be safe here. One man wounded 
during the day. 

June 8. We drew some rations of pork and bacon 
to day, and how glad the hungry soldiers were. 
Its weight in pure gold would be no object. Some 
of the heavy artillery just from Washington, saw 
our cooks boiling the dainty morsels, and they visit 
ed us in squads, complaining that they had tasted 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 131 

none for a week, and begging for small portions, 
offering in exchange money to any amount. But 
the cooks replied, " our boys have been out to the 
front for a whole week under constant fire and must 
have it all." The artillery boys thus came to grief, 
and concluded that they were not luxuriating in the 
beautiful forts around Washington, but had come 
to hard, active service; and they are resolved to 
strike for the "old flag" as patriotic soldiers and 
brave men : as a regiment of their comrades did, 
who in a few minutes lost several hundred men 
while nobly fighting. 

All through this portion of Virginia the planters 
had put in heavy crops, mostly corn and wheat, evi 
dently thinking they would not be disturbed by the 
Union army. 

Corn was then a foot and a half high, wheat nicely 
headed out, and beautiful fields of clover in full 
bloom stretched out in every direction. The vast 
fields of corn and wheat would soon be ground to 
powder by the army, and thousands of Gen Sheri 
dan s horses were grazing in the rich fields of clover. 

Heavy skirmishing and some artillery firing during 
the day. The regiment engaged in building bomb- 
proofs. I was still sick. A fellow sufferer very 
truly remarked that we were in a bad state the 
state of Virginia. 

January 9. The regiment is at the extreme front, 
and Company H is engaged in the dangerous work 
of throwing up rifle-pits, and digging a tunnel in 
advance of our works, and almost under the shadow 
of the enemy s battery. 



132 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

Captain S. intends to mine their main fort, and 
is sure of success, and is determined to show the 
rebels a "right smart" hole hy morning. 

At sundown, for some cause, our men along the 
whole line sent up cheer after cheer in the most 
approved Yankee style, but our neighbors, the rebs, 
were as silent as the grave, and for some unaccount 
able reason did not fire a gun for hours. 

Their camp fires blazed away far more brilliant 
than usual, and lit up the country for miles around. 
Our sharpshooters began to peck away, the artil 
lery threw a number of shells into^their works, and 
our bands played all sorts of Union pieces calculated 
to irritate the Johnnies and draw them out, but it 
was "no go;" the rebs would not reply, and all 
night the angel of death ceased to reap a harvest of 
dead, and the horrors of war were stayed. Each 
side were working like beavers, and were fortifying 
and digging up nearer to each other, and day and 
night, under fire and out of fire, the axe, shovel, 
and pick were constantly under motion, probably 
clearing the way for another bloody conflict. It 
was a sad sight to see our poor wounded fellows, 
most of them hit with bullets, grape and shell at 
short range, and had terrible wounds. Every third 
man lost a leg or an arm, and some both. All bore 
up nobly under their sufferings. 

Jan. 16. The usual amount of skirmishing and 
artillery firing. Loss small. Co. II are tunneling 
a hill, and the rebel sharpshooters fire at them con- 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 133 

stantly from their favorite resorts, trees, stumps, 
and breastworks, but cannot stop the digging. 

The following are among the incidents of the 
day: 

A cook for one of the companies built a fire, and 
had a kettle of coffee nearly boiled, when a shell 
burying itself in the ground under the fire, exploded, 
sending the coffee, kettle, fire and dirt high in the 
air, creating great consternation among the colored 
spectators, and frightening some so that they came 
near turning white. Nobody hurt. 
* A cruel shell burst in one of the wards of the 
18th Corps hospital, and killed a poor fellow who 
lost a leg in the battle of Coal Harbor. 

A soldier of the 2nd Conn., with his discharge in 
his pocket and his knapsack on his back, was en 
gaged in taking an affectionate leave of his com 
rades, when a bullet pierced his brain killing him 
instantly. 

Instead of reaching his earthly home, his blood 
sealed his final earthly discharge. 

A squad of rebel prisoners captured were dressed 
in our own blue. When asked why they wore blue, 
replied: "We feel proud of blue, because when we 
pace through southern towns, the ladies think we 
have killed a Yankee and have on his clothes, so 
they wave handkerchiefs and throw kisses at us to 
show their respect for the deed." 

A rebel said they would never want for commis 
sary stores as long as -General Banks was alive. 
How are you Red river campaign ? 
12 



134 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

A NEW BASE. 

June 12. To day the army began to evacuate 
Coal Harbor for the purpose of changing its base to 
the James river. Our brigade was the last to leave 
the works, and Co. H remained until daylight the 
next morning, digging and firing away as usual so 
as to keep up appearances. 

When the grand army were far in the distance, 
the company silently left the works and marched to 
the regiment at White House. 

When several miles away, the rebels were heard 
banging away at our deserted pits, not having dis 
covered that the Union army had "made tracks." 

The Eighteenth Corps marched back minus 3,000 
brave fellows, who fell at the battle and siege of the 
Chickahominy. 

The regiment reached Wliite House at 9 A. M. 

The army of the Potomac marched over land to 
the James, and the [Eighteenth Corps took trans 
ports. We lay at White House during the day and 
night and got a little rest. 

June 13. The regiment embarked on a barge at 
3 P. M. Got stuck in the mud during the afternoon, 
but managed to steam clear. Had but few rations 
and hardly standing room. 

The cooks made coffee from the dirty water of 
the Pamunkey river, and it tasted good. 

June 14. Arrived at Fortress Monroe at 10 
A. M., and Fort Powhattan on the James river, 
late in the evening. Found our way obstructed by 
a pontoon bridge on which the army of the Poto- 

ac were crossing to Petersburg. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 135 

"We disembarked and lay under the guns of the 
fort until nearly daylight the next morning. 

A DAY OF SUFFERING. 

June 15. We marched from Fort Powhattan to 
City Point, a distance of eighteen miles. Header, 
do you know the suffering of a day s march through 
the hot. sun ? Let me try in my feeble way to de 
scribe the suffering of that day s tramp. 

The yellow clay hardened by the sun and ground 
to powder by the tramp of a great army, rose up in 
thick, black columns and settled upon us, filling 
our eyes, and causing our eye-balls to roll with pain. 

The rays of the sun beat upon us with searching 
power ; our lips cracked open for want of water, 
and the perspiration rolled from our bodies in a 
continuous stream. 

To add still further to the facts, a terrible fire 
was raging on both sides of the road, and we were 
obliged to walk between the red walls of flame. 
How the devouring flames hissed, and cracked, and 
played, as they vied with us on our march. 

We were choked and singed, and oh! how 
eagerly we scooped up the dirty swamp water, 
poured the dregs down our parched throats, and 
thanked God for the relief it afforded us. Our feet 
were blistered and sore as boils, and every step we 
took caused an agony of pain. Our legs and shins 
were bruised, and the warm blood trickled down 
our lacerated flesh. But tis sweet to suffer for 
one s country. Tis glorious to be tortured for 
the sacred cause of freedom. 



136 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

At City Point I paid $3.50 for a scant supply of 
food for two meals, and $1.00 for a few tough mo 
lasses cakes. 

We embarked on a boat at City Point a little 
after dark, and were hurried up to Point of Rocks, 
where we again proceeded by land. We marched 
until two o clock Friday morning, and then lay 
down on the damp ground for a couple of hours. 
We had been obliged to throw away all our cloth 
ing except that upon our backs, so we slept cold. 

June 16. Marched to the fortifications at Ber 
muda Hundreds. Our brigade cut the Petersburg 
and Richmond rail road again. The 115th put up 
their shelters. Paid $4.50 for a little food to keep 
from starvation. The rebels charged our picket 
line at daylight and were repulsed. Lee appeared 
in our front with a large army. Co. H was sent 
to garrison Fort Kantz. At midnight a portion of 
the 6th Corps and our brigade (115th included), 
formed to attack the enemy. Our brigade was to 
charge, and if possible capture the first line of 
works, when the 6th Corps were to advance and 
storm the second line. For that purpose, our bri 
gade accompanied by the Ambulance Corps and 
surgeons, crawled on their hands and knees and 
were nearly up to the unsuspecting enemy, when 
the 6th Corps made considerable noise and alarmed 
the rebels, who instantly sprang to arms and began 
to fire at our column. 

This put an end to the plans, and the troops were 
called off. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 1ST 

June 17. Slight skirmishing along the line. 

June 19. Both armies remained comparatively 
quiet during the day, and we had quite a Sabbath s 
rest. Columns of rebel troops were moving at a 
double quick toward Petersburg., At night the 
rebels charged on our convalescent pickets, driving 
them at first; but our men rallied and captured 
eight prisoners and several stands of guns. 

Two men of the 115th wounded during the day. 

June 20. Two men of the 115th wounded to-day. 

June 21. Our monitors and the rebel iron clads 
had a brush to-day. It made the earth shake some 
what. Co. H still held Fort Kantz, and the re 
mainder of the regiment are on the skirmish line. 

Saw fifteen pieces marked Richmond which were 
captured by our corps from the rebels at Peters 
burg. They looked battle worn. 

June 23. At sundown, our division, now the 
3rd, 18th Corps, got marching orders for Peters 
burg. We crossed the Appomattox river on a 
long pontoon, and after a weary and dusty night s 
march of twelve miles reached the front line of 
works, where we relieved a portion of the 9th 
Corps. 

SIEGE AND BATTLES OF PETERSBURG. 

June 24. Firing continued on both sides the en 
tire day. Every soldier rash enough to show his 
person received the compliments of many rebel 
rifles, and a large number were thus killed and 
wounded. 



138 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

At 1 o clock the rebels made two charges a little 
to our left. They first came with their " yi, yi, yi," 
in a single line, and were easily repulsed. They 
reformed in a moment, and a second [time came 
charging up in two beautiful lines of battle. 

Our men took 250 of them prisoners, killed and 
wounded, and routed the remainder of them. 

AN ORDER THAT BROUGHT DEATH VERY CLOSE. 

At 7 o clock we were ordered to make a charge 
on the powerful works in our front. A charge is 
always a terrible thing, but that night it seemed 
worse than usual. Three times our brave men had 
charged the same line, and three times had been 
bloodily repulsed. A few yards in front of one 
company only, and upon the ground over which we 
were to charge, lay the dead and rotten bodies of 
thirty-six of our men who had fallen in a former 
, charge. We were the "last resort," the "forlorn 
hope," and our little band prepared for the deadly 
work. 

Some officers called the boys together, told them 
it was probably sure death, but we must reach the 
enemy s works or die getting there, and asked 
them all to protect the colors. They all resolved 
to fight like brave men. 

Some of them wrote their farewell notes in case 
they should be killed, and charged any who might 
escape to take them from their pockets and send 
them to their friends. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 139 

A few hurried and earnest whispers of prayer, 
a survey of the ground over which we supposed 
we were to pass, and we started. The rebels 
opened their masked port holes, and their black 
guns were ready to rake us with grape and cannis- 
ter, while great clouds of dust in our front told us 
that they were being reinforced. 

We prayed " God save us the work," for we felt 
it would be a useless slaughter. 

Suddenly General Smith rode up to Colonel Bar 
ton and commanded: "Halt your regiment!" 
The order to charge was countermanded. 

"We all thanked God with overflowing hearts, for 
we felt that we were saved from a fearful sacrifice 
from which no result except blood could be gained. 
There was one man killed and three wounded in 
the 115th. 

June 27. Heavy charges by the rebels during 
the night with a heavy loss to them. One man 
killed and three wounded in the 115th. 

June 30. The bells of Petersburg are ringing 
a merry peal, as though proclaiming the notes of 
victory. Regiment mustered for pay. Heavy firing ; 
some loss. 

Our division was ordered to charge the enemy s 
works at 5 P. M. It was intended to be a surprise, 
but our brigade was marched directly over the 
works, and of course were discovered by the rebels, 
who immediately opened upon us with all their 
artillery. The result was that the troops were 



140 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

obliged to fall back with the loss of a large number 
of men. 

The following account of the affair is from the 
New York Times: 

" The attempt on the part of General Smith to 
carry one of the enemy s salients in his front on 
Thursday night, resulted in more casualties than 
was at first believed. Not less than 150 men were 
wounded, principally by shells, and with scarcely 
an exception the injuries were of the most terrible 
character. 

" The officer upon whom the blame is thrown for 
the miscarriage of the plan is Colonel Willam E. 
Barton, commanding Second Brigade, Turner s 
Division, 10th Corps, which is on duty before Peters 
burg. The attack was intended as a surprise, and 
orders were issued to the brigade commander to 
move cautiously forward, one company at a time, 
under cover of a piece of woods on the left of the 
line. Instead of obeying these orders, Colonel 
Barton is charged with moving his brigade directly 
over the breastworks in a field fully exposed to the 
view of the enemy. This singular action, of course, 
showed the rebels that some movement was on foot, 
and they immediately opened a heavy artillery fire 
from their batteries on the left bank of the Appo- 
mattox. General Smith immediately ordered the 
troops to withdraw, and abandon for the time the 
effort to advance his lines. Colonel Barton I under 
stand, has been placed under arrest, and his conduct 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 141 

will be inquired into. He handled his brigade very 
gallantly at Coal Harbor, and was officially compli 
mented therefor by General Smith, while his ser 
vices for more than two years in the department of 
the south, at Fort "Wagner, Olustee and elsewhere, 
were quite creditable. 

"In the affair, General Smith narrowly escaped 
being a victim to the sharpshooters. Captain But 
ler, one of the General s aids, was badly wounded 
in the knee while standing by his side in conversa 
tion with him." 

July 1. Exceedingly warm. The enemy at 
tempted to advance their works under cover of 
night, but were driven back. 

One killed, and three wounded in the regiment 
dnring the twenty four hours. 

July 2. The usual firing on our corps front. The 
2d and 5th Corps are on good terms with the rebels, 
but the 9th and 18th are banging away at them 
continually. 

July 3. Very quiet, even for Sunday. 

July 4. At sunrise the national colors of the en 
tire Union army were planted on our breastworks, 
where they floated in all their glory in full view of 
the enemy until night. During a portion of the 
afternoon our parrots threw shells into the streets 
of Petersburg at the rate of one a minute, putting 
Johnnies in mind of the fact that it was the " 4th of 
July." 

At midnight the rebels bombarded us quite fu 
riously, scattering their shells over a wide extent of 



142 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

territory, but fortunally causing the loss of but three 
lives. 

I examined a heap of missiles thrown by the 
rebels during the night, and gathered up by our 
Ambulance Corps in the vicinity of our surgeon s tent. 

July 5. The Christian Commission made the fol 
lowing generous donation to the regiment through 
our worthy chaplain, who rode through the heat 
and dust many miles for them. 

24 cans each of roast turkey and mutton, to be 
made into soup. 

24 cans of condensed milk, together with a libe 
ral supply of corn starch to be made into puddings 
for the sick. 

14 pounds of pure black and green tea, of which 
each man in the regiment received a soothing cup. 

24 bottles of Jamaica ginger, in great demand 
by soldiers suffering from the dreadful and preva 
lent disease of dysentery. 

A large quantity of tobacco, esteemed by the 
greater portion of the army as the greatest luxury 
furnished them. 

Soap, so much needed to wash off the dirt. 

A large quantity of stationary, for the boys to 
write home to their friends. 

It had become necessary to issue half rations of 
whiskey to the army. 

The rebels shelled our profane and wicked cooks, 
damaging a shelter and a hard-tack box consid 
erably. 



THE IKON HEARTED REGIMENT. 143 

Neither army can make a surprise movement 
here, owing to the great clouds of dust sure to rise 
when any body of troops move. 

One man killed, and one man wounded in the 
115th. 

July Q Warm and sultry, and the same con 
tinuous, unvaried booming of cannon and rattle of 
musketry. Now and then a dead or wounded man 
is carried to the rear. We ask who he is, what 
regiment he belonged to, and that is the last of it. 

Squads of sick drag themselves out of musket 
range, and feel glad to get a breath of pure air, or 
hide beneath the cool shade of some leafy tree. 
The strong watch the enemy, do the fighting, and 
are in the heighth of enjoyment when supplied with 
an abundance of food and lead. 

Three men of Co. A were wounded by a shell ; 
one mortally. 

July 7. Four men of Co. I, 117th New York, 
were said to have been killed in the trenches by a 
single shell. 

Each man in the 115th received a glass of lem 
onade from the Sanitary Commission. 

Hink s negro brigade relieved our brigade from 
the second line of works. 

FREAKS OP SOLID SHOT. 

Our regimental teamster was in his shanty quiet 
ly eating his evening repast, when a solid shot sud 
denly demolished the house and buried him in the 
ruins. 



144 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

A second passed through the quartermaster s 
tent, between a couple of officers, knocking down 
the ridge pole, and nearly taking away their breath. 

A third tore a great hole in General Turner s 
headquarters, and several others came so close that 
he was obliged to move. Several shots went 
screaming through the sutler s shanty, and he 
"dusted right smart." One man of Co. D wound 
ed during the day. 

July 8 Regiment much reduced in numbers and 
health. Some of the men have not blood enough 
in tbeir veins to keep up a good circulation. One 
of our shells blew a rebel from behind the works, 
and he burned to death within sight of friends and 
foes. It is thought that the rebels are engaged in 
mining. 

July 9 Worked the most of the night on the 
front works, in laying up timbers, filling sand bags 
and throwing up dirt. 

July 13 A day of intense heat, with a withering 
wind. 

July 19. Three men of the 115th wounded 
during the past twenty-four hours. 

July 20 to 29th. Regiment engaged in picketing, 
&c. The 115th are changed to Bell s Brigade, 3rd 
Brigade, 2nd Division, 18th Corps. 

Four killed and one wounded in the 115th. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 145 

CHARGE OF CEMETERY HILL. 

On the evening of July 29th our division received 
marching orders, and after dark quietly moved to 
the rear of the 9th Corps, and lay on our arms until 
midnight. We then massed on a side-hill in front 
of the 9th Corps, and awaited the dawn of day, 
when a grand charge was to be made on the works 
on our front, in which the whole army was 
expected to take part. 

One of the largest rebel forts was mined with 
several tons of powder, and when it blew up the 
Union army were to charge and drive the rebels 
from their works. 

THE MORNING OF BATTLE. 

July the thirtieth, sixty -four. How well all who 
were engaged remember the scenes enacted on that 
eventful and bloody day; the swaths of dead; 
crushed and mangled limbs; the deathly palor on a 
thousand noble cheeks; the bravery, daring and 
inspiring devotion of the soldiery, and the awful 
roar and tempest of battle on the green hill-sides of 
Petersburg. 

On that beautiful morning, when all nature was 
wreathed in smiles and loveliness, 20,000 Union sol 
diers awoke from their slumbers on the damp ground, 
hardly thinking that before the setting of the sun 
5,000 of their number would either nobly die, lie 
bleeding in the hospital or on the battle-field, or a 
thousand times worse, be consigned to the loathsome 
13 



146 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

horrors of southern dungeons and charnel houses. 
But thus it was. 

What a grand and glorious sight it was to see 

those long, deep columns of blue, as they raised up 
into full view, with their guns and bayonets flashing 
in the sunlight. How proud we felt of our army 
then. 

A thrill of pleasure ran through every soul, and 
we dreamed that victory would perch upon our 
banners. 

THE EARTH QUAKES ! 

The very heavens above us are obscured from 
view. A dense, black column of smoke arises ; the 
conflict has opened. 

A rebel fort has been blown in pieces, a regiment 
of traitors hurried into eternity in a moment s time, 
and we are to follow up the advantage gained. A 
hundred and fifty Union cannon hail shell and grape 
into the ranks of the foe who are rushing in wild 
consternation from the works. 

What a fearful thunder, and what a terrible con 
centration of iron, lead and fire, and yet men live. 
See how it tears, and sweeps and mows through 
human flesh and blood, dealing out death, destruc 
tion and slaughter with an unsparing hand. The 
awful, sickening sight gives us a sort of sadness ; 
yet we know that unless we kill them, they will do 
their best to kill us, and to destroy the beloved fab 
ric of liberty. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 147 

THE FIRST ASSAULT. 

We hear a cheer. With eagerness we catch the 
sound. Thank God! it is not the low, savage howl 
of the rebels, but the full, honest, hearty cheer of 
the Union boys ; and it tells us that they are mak 
ing a charge. The rebels have rallied to their 
works again, and greet the assaulting column with 
a fearful fire. Great gaps, wide and deep, are cut 
in the ranks. They stagger for a moment, then 
close up like a flash ; and on they press, mount the 
rebel works, and we behold half a dozen battle 
flags proudly floating from the ramparts. 

THE 115TH GO FOWARD. 

Now comes our turn. There is no need of call 
ing us to attention, for every man is in his place. 

Battalion, right face file left march ! com 
manded the colonel, and swiftly we move towards 
the front. 

Suddenly our progress is impeded, and the road 
is blockaded with the flow of wounded who are be 
ing dragged to the rear. The sight of blood makes 
us shudder for an instant, for it flows as freely as 
water, and drips our path with crimson. A 
stretcher goes past with a wounded soldier who is 
soaking in his own life s blood. Another bears a 
man with his under jaw cut away, his tongue torn 
from its roots, and his head a shapeless mass. It 
was sickening even to us. A wounded captain is 
borne along, and he gives us a word of warning ; 
" Go quick boys ! go quick ! its your only salva- 



148 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

tion ! " How fast the shells go screaming over us, 
and how the grape tears up the ground. 

We reach our front, form line of battle, and then 
get orders to sit down. 

A COLORED DIVISION 

mount the works, and they too go foward on the 
charge. 

We watch them eagerly ; it is their first fight, 
and we wonder if they will stand the shock. 

Noble fellows ! grandly they cross the field ; they 
are under a withering fire, but still rush on regard 
less of fallen comrades, and the storm of pitiless 
lead and relentless grape that pours upon them 
from three sides, and gain the works with a ringing 
cheer. Now they sweep everything before them. 
Prisoners are taken, and are forced to run the fear 
ful gauntlet of fire. A fellow comrade said he saw 
a colored soldier in an agony of frenzy, bayonet a 
rebel prisoner, and his own captain j ustly shot him 
dead. Others place wounded comrades in blankets 
and shelter tents, and compel the chivalry at the 
point of the bayonet to carry them from the field. 

The colored troops are greatly elated at their suc 
cess, and wildly mass and crowd together regard 
less of all order or position. 

OUR GALLANT GENERAL 

crosses the dread field alone, finds out where he 
wants the men to go, then rushes back, draws his 
sword, and glancing at his troops proudly says : 
"Come on my brave boys," and they did go on; 
some on to death, and some on to the rebel works. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 149 

THE 115TH LED THE CHARGE 

and nobly followed their brave general. Lieuten 
ant Francisco, Co. K, and Sergeant Fellows, the 
"iron hearted color sergeant," were among the first 
over the works. 

The color bearer unfurls "the dear old flag," and 
with fire flashing from his eyes, tells the boys to 
come on; then calmly pointing to the works we 
were to carry, he flew away. 

" Forward, hundred and fifteenth !" rang along 
the line. The regiment, and then the whole bri 
gade sweep forward with a deafening yell. 

Each one dreamed that he would stem the tide 
of battle, and that some other poor fellow would 
fall. We left the ground covered with killed and 
wounded. The grim banners of death floated here 
and there, yet the invincible columns pressed furi 
ously on, and at last took the position by storm. 

The colored troops hold the two first lines, and 
we, with colored troops hold the third. 

The rebels are on the same line with us, on our 
right and left, and they engage us on either flank 
with infantry, at the same time sweeping our lines 
with a cross fire of grape. 

Our men load and fire with desperation. They 
pour down upon the rebels in the hollow. 

It must make their hair stand on end. 



150 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

THE SLEEPING REGIMENT. 

At the mined fort, amid gun carriages and tim 
bers, lay the naked corpses of the South Carolinians 
blown up by the powder. Around the crater we 
see a large body of Union soldiers, lying as though 
in line of battle waiting for the command to move 
forward, and we suppose they are some regiment 
or brigade ; but on going to the spot, what is our 
horror to find that they are all Union dead ! There 
they lay both white and black, not singly or scat 
tering, but in long rows ; in whole companies. 
The ground is blue with Union dead, They all lay 
on their taces, calmly, peacably sleeping ; while the 
battle rages all around, Jeff. Davis is reaping a rich 
harvest of dead. 

THRILLING SCENES ON THE FIELD. 

A discharge of grape tears through the men be 
hind me, and five tumble over wounded. "Oh! 
Bill, I m shot!" says one. Another limps tow r ards 
the rear, but a cruel bullet lays him low. A third 
is lain gently on a rubber blanket, and two of his 
company carry him safely from the field of strife. 
The others remain and battle for the right. 

Almon Stone is shot through the neck, but goes 
bravely through the fire. 

Benjamin Thackarah is wounded in the thigh, 
but escapes capture by crawling through the 
woods. 

A member of Co. C is shot through the mouth, 
and a stream of blood spouts out. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 151 

I can t begin to relate one of a thousand inci 
dents. 

THE REBELS CHARGE WITH SUCCESS. 

But look ! The rebels are forming on our front. 
They come towards us at an easy pace, and in a 
beautiful line. No arms are to be seen in their 
hands, and our officers with few exceptions, con 
clude that they are coming in as prisoners of war, 
and command the men to cease firing. Suddenly 
the sneaking rebels bring their guns in view, and 
give us a crushing volley. "We give them a vol 
ley in return. The colored troops on our front for 
the same reason become panic stricken, and blindly 
hurl themselves back on our bayonets ; and a wild 
scene of confusion ensues. 

The mass of the Union army are swept back like 
a breath of air, and are cut up badly on the back 
ward track. Company H with the colors, and a 
few of the regiment who had been able to stem the 
tide of confusion remained, and single handed and 
alone contested the ground. 

The flag of the 115th still floated from the rebel 
works, and the brave boys surrounded it with a 
cordon of bayonets. 

Captain Smith calmly tells the boys to fight as 
long as there is hope. The rebels swarm around 
the little band of heroes, and could snatch the 
colors but for the brave hearts and bright bayonets 
beneath its folds. 



152 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Colonel Sammons fears the flag may be lost, and 
rushes up to see about it, when a rebel takes de 
liberate aim and shoots him through the leg. 

It is madness to remain longer, for if we stay, 
our little band will all be killed or captured. So 
back we go, and reach our line under a dreadful 
fire of lead. The rebels were sure of us ; the 
Union army looking on think us lost ; but a kind 
providence guides the most of the band over the 
dead and the dying and through the iron storm in 
safety. 

Our flag is pierced with nine fresh wounds, and 
for the fourth time the staff is shot in pieces. 

Our troops in the fort fare worse than we ; for 
they are all killed, wounded or captured. 

The sun pours down its scorching rays, and 
many are sun-struck and carried in wild delirium 
from the pits. All are exhausted and sink down 
almost helpless from the strain. 

THE TERRIBLE CRY FOR WATER. 

"Water! water! water!" groan the wounded. 
""Water! water!" fiercely gasp all the men. Oh 
heavens ! what a thirst ! A thousand soldiers 
crowd and swarm around a pool of dirty water, 
scoop up the precious beverage and pour it down 
their parched throats, as though it was the stream 
of life. 

The wounded cry for water in vain. Poor fel 
lows ! they are only a few yards from us, but it is 
death to any man who undertakes their rescue, and 
none but God in heaven can save them. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 153 

Our coffee has arrived. We have eaten nothing 
since yesterday, are streaming with perspiration, 
and the coffee is very hot ; yet how delicious, how 
delightful it is to taste it. Within a fort of dead 
men, and sitting over human blood and brains, yet 
all calmly sip their coffee. 

THE DEAD AND THE DYING. 

The soldiers who are badly wounded, lay ex 
posed to the fire of friend and foe alike. 

One moves painfully towards our works an inch 
at a time, but the heartless rebels give him a volley 
of bullets for his pains. 

Another, unable to move, piteously begs to be 
saved, and motions to some friends imploringly 
with his hand. The brave fellows hearts are 
melted with pity, and they risk their own lives and 
crawl out to get their comrade. After long and 
painful exertions their efforts are crowned with 
complete success ; their friend is safe. 

A heap of dead men lie beside us in the trenches; 
one shot through the right eye, and the blood trick 
ling out ; a second shot through the heart, and his 
clothes are bathed in blood ; a third begrimed with 
powder so that we cannot tell if he be white or 
black, is cut in halves. A grey-haired old man, 
bordering on three score years and ten, lies down 
the hill, his white locks red with blood. 

The wounded are groaning, and some beg to be 
killed so as to be out of their misery, while nearly 
all desire to be carried to the hospital. 



154 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

The band approach and throw dirt over the hlood 
where we stand. 

Captain Smith tells four of his men to take two 
mutilated dead men from under our feet, and they 
sadly obey, wondering whose loved ones they are 
taking out to decay. 

Sergeant G is overcome with heat, and is 

crazy. His eyes glare fearfully, and his eye-balls 
roll painfully in their sockets. " We ll fight em 
till we die, won t we boys?" he said, and then 
swooned away. 

CLOSING SCENES OF THE BATTLE. 

In the afternoon we are ordered further to the 
right, to relieve Barton s Brigade. We cross an 
open position of the works where a creek passes 
through, and every man is shot at. 

A private of Co. F is mortally wounded. How 
deathly pale he looks. 

A sergeant of the 48th N". Y. is shot dead, and 
his comrades take his watch and money from his 
pockets to send to his friends, and cover a blanket 
over the dead body to protect it from the sun, for 
no one gets buried now. Two stars are no better 
than two stripes at this time. 

Lieut. G fired at a rebel, and in return re 
ceived a bullet in the head, which left him delirious 
on the ground. "I m shot! I m shot!" he cried. 

At last the order comes to relieve us. The right 
wing of the regiment hurry through a long ditch 
containing a great many dead bodies, and are free 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 155 

from fire. Free from fire ! How good it sounds. 
The left wing had to remain that night. 

Night closed the contest, and a dark funeral pall 
hung around. Tired and weary we sank to rest 
with the blue canopy of heaven for a covering. All 
hearts breathed a prayer to heaven for God s good 
ness. 

No one desires to behold another such a day. No 
soldier is eager to rush to battle and to death for 
the mere glory of fighting, but do it from a sense 
of duty, or a stern necessity. A sane man cannot 
face death without thinking of his situation. A 
father thinks of his little children, a husband of his 
loving wife far away. 

The bravest soldier on the battle field is he who 
counts the cost and realizes the misery of the awful 
work of slaughter he whom in life is the most 
modest and unassuming. 

The Union loss amounted to more than 5,000 in 
killed, wounded and missing; and the rebel loss 
was estimated at 4,000 men. 



CHAPTER VII. 

LARGE LOSS OF LIFE. 

At early dawn on the morning of July 31st, the 
regiment was roused up from a deep sleep and 
ordered to proceed to City Point without delay. 
The men felt tired and worn, for the hot work of 
the previous day told on the most powerful consti 
tutions. 

The roads were black with troops as far as the 
eye could reach, and dense clouds of dust swept 
over the country like a tornado. The day was the 
warmest of the season, being at the heighth of the 
great drouth ; the wells and streams of water were 
nearly all dried up, and but few of the vast number 
of sufferers could procure drink to cool their 
parched tongues. City Point was nearly reached, 
when orders came to turn back and proceed to Ber 
muda Hundreds. All along the route of march 
many were overcome with heat, until the sides of 
the road were covered with soldiers suffering with 
sun-stroke. Some dropped down dead in the ranks, 
while others fell out and died by the road side. 
Every ambulance and baggage-waggon was piled 
full of the suffering men, and they rolled off to the 
hospital at Point of Rocks, groaning under the 
weight of human freight. 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 157 

The Appomattox river was reached in the after 
noon, and although the water was the color of mud, 
and as hot as though heated on a stove, yet the sol 
diers made for it as though struggling for dear life, 
and hundreds drank down the sickening liquid. 

The troops crossed the river on a pontoon bridge 
which swayed to and fro. The motion of it made 
the men dizzy, and large numbers who were only 
partially affected by the sun, were completely pros 
trated, and as many as half a dozen laid at the end 
dead. 

The regiment reached Bermuda Hundreds before 
dark, but with thinned ranks, and we found that in 
some companies nearly every man was sun-struck. 
The division lost more men that day, killed by the 
sun, the want of water, and by hard marching, than 
it did in the terrible battle of the day before. 

ON PICKET AT BERMUDA HUNDREDS. 

The Union and rebel pickets made an agreement 
that they would not fire into each other unless a 
forward movement was made ; so for several days 
the most perfect harmony prevailed between blue 
and grey. 

Yankees and Johnnies washed together in the 
same brook, procured water to drink from the same 
spring, drank coffee from the same tin cup, and 
curious to relate, read the news from the same 
papers. 

Squads of soldfers from both armies were ob 
served seated together on the ground, earnestly 
14 



158 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

discussing the great questions of the day, each ob 
stinately maintaining his own side of the question. 
One of our soldiers took from his pocket a copy of 
the New York Herald and read the Union account 
of one of the great battles to an attentive crowd of 
rebel soldiers, and when he had done, one of the 
chivalry brought to view a dingy copy of the Rich 
mond Examiner and proceeded to read his side of 
the story. 

During all that time, as the rebels would say, the 
pickets traded "right smart," and drove a heavy 
business in coffee, hard-tack, and tobacco. The 
rebels always inquired for pocket-books, jackknives, 
and canteens the first thing, those articles evidently 
being very scarce in the Confederacy. 

One day a rebel regiment sent over on a card, 
which read thus: 

"Third Ya. Infantry, friends on picket, but ene 
mies in battle." 

The boys replied that if ever they fought the 
115th, they would find a "dusty" lot of boys, which 
they afterward found to their sorrow was true. 

BATTLE OF DEEP BOTTOM. 

On the 15th day of August the 115th prepared 
three days of cooked rations, at dark struck tents, 
and by 10 o clock were on the march. They crossed 
the James river on pontoons to Deep Bottom at 
midnight, and on the morning of the 16th were 
ready for action. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 159 

The 10th and 2nd Corps fought the bloody battle 
of Deep Bottom on the 16th, while considerable 
fighting took place on the 1 7th and 18th also. 

The rebel works which the 115th helped storm, 
were defended by the best troops of Lee s army ; 
but they were unable to stand against the bravery 
of our men, who drove them from their strong lines 
of works, following them as far as Malvern Hill. 

The Union army was having splendid success, 
when the rebels received reinforcements, and the 
115th maintaining the ground, found themselves 
flanked by a superior force, and were raked by a 
most deadly cross fire which told fearfully in their 
ranks. The colors were shot down as fast as the 
brave men could pick them up, but still were kept 
floating in the breeze. Col. Osborn, commanding 
the brigade, was wounded early in the fight, and 
Lieut. Col. Johnson and Major Walworth of the 
115th took command in succession and were each 
wounded in turn. 

The regiment entered the battle field with one 
hundred and seventy-five muskets, and after the 
three days fighting was over but eighty men were 
left uninjured. 

The corps captured and brought away four heavy 
guns and three battle flags as the trophies of their 
valor. 

The Union loss was about 3,000 and the rebel 
loss about 4,000 men. 

On the 18th, the rebels in heavy force charged 
down on the picket line, and captured the most of 
company A. 



160 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Shortly afterward, the regiment recrossed the 
James, and again pitched camp at the fortifications 
of Bermuda Hundreds. 

BATTLE OP FORT GILMER. 

After the battle of Deep Bottom the regiment 
performed important service at Bermuda Hundreds 
and in front of Petersburg until the 29th of Sep 
tember, when with the old army of the James, 
they again crossed the James, and gallantly aided 
in carrying the enemy s powerful line of works, 
with double lines of abattis at Spring Hill, near 
New Market. 

They fought with their usual heroism, and drove 
the rebels in their front, at least two miles. 

The success of this battle placed the Union army 
in possession of a vital point. So great was the 
success that two days later General Lee massed 
"the flower" of his army on the right flank of the 
army of the James, and the most determined 
assaults were made to retake the works. The ene 
my was disastrously repulsed, with a loss of seven 
battle flags, and the destruction of General Cling- 
man s brigade. 

Many brave men of the 115th fell, and there 
was a fearful loss of limbs among the wounded. 
Lieut. Col. Johnson picked up the flag after it had 
repeatedly been shot down, and led the regiment. 
Sergeant Fellows fell while carrying the flag up to 
the enemy s works. Peter Butler took the flag 
from the wounded sergeant, and he too soon re 
ceived a wound. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 163! 

The 115th suffered a loss of 32 men, being about 
one half of the whole number engaged.. 

BATTLE OF DARBY TOWN ROAD. 

For nearly a month after the battle of Fort Gil- 
mer, the 115th were under almost constant fire, and 
were frequently engaged with the enemy. 

On the 27th of October a forward 1 movement was 
again made in the direction of Richmond which 
brought on a heavy battle. Portions of the 10tli 
Corps advanced far enough to see the church spires 
of the rebel capital. 

While the 115th were skirmishing with the enemy, 
very close to Richmond, a very unfortunate affair 
occurred which caused many hearts to bleed. The 
9th Maine regiment contained a large number of 
recruits who had never before been in a battle, and 
becoming excited at the smell of gunpowder, for 
some reason fired a volley into the 115th, killing and 
wounding a considerable number of men. That 
was far worse than being killed or maimed by the 
enemy. 

During the battle the Union army formed line on 
one side of a house, and the rebel army took posi 
tion on the other side. 

That house contained a family of a man, his wife, 
and three small children. 

The Union officers informed them that a battle 
would probably take place, and begged them to 
leave the house. The father and mother said they 



162 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

would not leave their home, and were determined 
to remain. 

The work of carnage soon begun, and when at 
last it ended for that day it was found that the 
mother and one of her children were numhered 
among the victims of cruel war. 

After the battle the regiment went into camp 
about six miles from Richmond, where it remained 
until the famous expedition under Gen. Butler sailed 
for the coast of North Carolina. 

THE TWO ATTACKS ON FORT FISHER. 

Early in the month of December, 1864, Gen. But 
ler s great expedition left Fortress Monroe for the 
coast of North Carolina, and the 115th accompanied 
it. The expedition was fitted out on a grand scale, 
being composed of nearly seventy vessels of war, 
and divided into five grand divisions, besides a vast 
number of transports, supply vessels, tenders, &c. 
The land force numbered several thousand men 
from the army of the James. After a rough voyage 
the fleet finally arrived off the coast of North Caro 
lina, when a great storm suddenly arose scattering 
the fleet in all directions. 

Some vessels reached INewbern and some Moore- 
head city, while the Hays, conveying the 115th, 
put to sea and rode out the storm. At last the 
navy and the land forces appeared at Fort Fisher. 
The powder boat was blown up with but little effect. 
The navy poured a terrific fire into the fort, and a 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 168 

portion of the troops were landed. Some heavy 
skirmishing had taken place, when General Butler 
decided that the fort could not be carried by assault ; 
so the troops returned to Virginia. 

The 115th had been on one of the smallest trans 
ports for over twenty days, in the roughest weather, 
with but little clothing, and suffered much from 
the cold. 

They had hardly formed camp before they were 
under marching orders again. 

General Butler had been released from command, 
and General Alfred H. Terry, of the 10th Corps, was 
placed in charge of the expedition, and ordered to 
capture Fort Fisher. 

On the night of January 3rd, 1865, the 115th 
marched through a driving snow storm to Bermuda 
Hundreds, and on the 4th embarked on the second 
expedition against Fort Fisher. 

It is only necessary to state that the regiment 
reached the point of attack, and with the gallant 
old 10th Corps Division, assaulted and carried Fort 
Fisher, the strongest fortification in America, on 
Sunday, January 15th, 1865, after fighting des 
perately for over six hours. 

The capture of this stronghold sealed the port of 
"Wilmington, and did more towards ending the war 
than any other event. 

The following official dispatch will serve to 
show the magnitude of the work accomplished. 



164 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Headquarters IT. S. Forces, 

On Federal Point, K C., Jan. 15, 
via Fortress Monroe, Jan. 17, 1865. 
Brig. Gen. J. A. Eawlins : 

General : I have the honor to report that Fort 
Fisher was carried by assault this afternoon and 
evening, by Gen. Ames s Division and the Second 
Brigade of the First Division of the Twenty -fourth 
Army Corps, gallantly aided by a battalion of 
marines and seamen from the Navy. 

The assault was preceded by a heavy bombard 
ment from the Union fleet, and was made at 3.80 
p. M., when the First Brigade (Curtis s) of Ames s 
Division effected a lodgment on the parapet, but 
full possession of the work was not obtained until 
10 p. M. 

The behavior of both officers and men was most 
admirable. All the works south of Fort Fisher 
are now occupied by our troops. We have not less 
than 1,200 prisoners, including Gen. Whiting and 
Col. Lamb, the commandant of the fort. 

I regret to say that our loss is severe, especially 
in officers. I am not yet able to form any estimate 
of the number of casualties. 

ALFRED H. TERRY, Brevet Maj. Gen., 

Commanding Expedition. 

DREADFUL CATASTROPHE. 

About 8 o clock on the morning of January 16th, 
1665, while the survivors of the Third Brigade were 
lying in fancied security in Fort Fisher with arms 
stacked, the main magazine of the fort exploded 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 165 

with a terrible noise, burying a large portion of the 
115tli and the other regiments of the brigade in 
the ruins. 

A large number were killed, and nearly all were 
wounded or bruised, and some were buried alive. 
Some of the regiment were covered to the depth of 
twenty feet beneath the mass of falling shells, earth 
and timber, while others were smashed to atoms. 

The New York Tribune correspondent, in writ 
ing in relation to the explosion says: 

"This morning about 8 o clock, as I had just 
entered and was walking leisurely through Fort 
Fisher, studying the record of horror before me, 
torn traverse by traverse, dismounted gun by gun, 
ghastly corpse by corpse, death and destruction all 
around, I may say breakfasting upon horrors, 
that I might know of what I might speak, I was 
suddenly startled by a terrific explosion and the 
sight of an immense column of debris going high 
into the air. Following the instincts of nature and 
the example of those around me, and vividly re 
membering City Point, as they say of Fort Pillow, 
and having acquired something of a habit of dodg 
ing the day before, I put myself under the best 
cover within reach, which I confess was very un 
satisfactory under the circumstances, and waited a 
long, a very long half minute, for the impending 
shower to come down, thinking of City Point all the 
while. "We happened to be in the outer edge of 
the shower, and very little injury, comparatively, 
was sustained in that quarter. 



166 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

The secret of the catastrophe was the explosion 
of the magazine of the fort. This magazine con 
sisted principally of an immense mound of earth, 
situated immediately back of the centre of the main 
or sea-wall of the fort. 

Some of our boys had been rummaging around 
in the bomb-proofs, including the magazine, striking 
lights and behaving in a careless manner generally, 
and it is supposed that in this way the accident oc 
curred. In fact, it is said that an officer remon 
strated with a soldier for having a lighted candle in 
the magazine, but receiving an insolent reply left 
him to his fate, and that soon after the magazine 
went up. 

The explosion, instead of the mound, left a crater, 
as in the case before Petersburg, burying every 
thing and everybody near the place from one to ten 
feet in the debris. The 4th New Hampshire and 
the 115th and 169th New York Regiments (all but 
one regiment of Col. Alden s brigade) had been de 
tailed to occupy the fort, and at the time of the 
explosion were bivouacking with their arms 
stacked, on a level space near the magazine. 

Almost the whole three regiments were buried 
alive to a greater or less depth, by the falling debris 
of earth, shot, shell, timbers, &c., &c. 

It is estimated that the 115th New York lost 110 
in killed and wounded; the 169th New York, 30 
killed and 75 wounded ; and the 4th New Hamp 
shire 50 killed and wounded; in all, about 265 for 
the three regiments, besides many not belonging to 
these regiments. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 167 

The survivors of the three regiments and a large 
number of other volunteer workmen have been en 
gaged a large part of the day in digging up bodies, 
with a prospect of not getting thoroughly through 
before night. 

There were a great many persons in the fort at 
the time of the explosion, besides the three regi 
ments on duty, drawn there by curiosity, and every 
foot of the debris on all sides of the crater will 
have to be dug over before the work can be prop 
erly relinquished. 

THE CLOSING CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR. 

On the 10th of February the great movement be 
gan in the direction of the city of Wilmington, and 
of course the 115th moved also. Fort Anderson 
was captured on the 19th, and on the 22d of Febru 
ary the 115th had the honor of taking part in the 
capture of Wilmington itself. From the 26th of 
March to the 9th of April they were guarding the 
Wilmington & Weldon R. R., starting on the long 
march to Raleigh on the 9th, and arriving there on 
the evening of the 14th. They at first camped a 
mile and a half outside of the city, moving camp 
nearly every day until the 20th of April, when the 
corps was reviewed at the State house by General 
Sherman. The Brigade then began to garrison the 
city, full one half of the men acting as safety guards 
for the citizens. 

The 115th made numerous long marches, per 
formed much hard work not mentioned here, and 



168 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

were under orders to move against Johnson, when 
that officer surrendered his army to General Sher 
man. 

HOMEWARD BOUND. 

Just before the regiment left for home General 
Allen issued the following stirring order : 

Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 

2nd Div., 10th Army Corps, 
Raleigh, K C., June 18th, 1865. 
General Order, No. 15. 

Officers and Men of the 115th Regiment, N. Y. Vol 
unteers : As you are about to return to your own state, 
thence to your respective homes, the general com 
manding feels called upon, not only in his own 
behalf, but also in behalf of our common country, 
to thank you for your gallant service in this war of 
the rebellion, and with pride may you refer to the 
numerous battles in which you have acquitted your 
selves with honor, such as Olustee, Coal Harbor, 
Petersburg, Fort Fisher, and many others. Many 
of your gallant comrades have gloriously fallen in 
the storm of battle while bravely doing their duty 
to their country and to their God, and their mem 
ory will ever be cherished by a grateful country. 

The homes which you have honored by your ser 
vice to your country, and periled your lives to pro 
tect from the shame and the disgrace which success 
of traitors would have involved upon them, are 
waiting to welcome you, and the record of your 
military career warrants the belief that in civil life 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 169 

you will all discharge your duties in a manner that 
will reflect credit upon yourselves as citizens. 
By order 

ALONZO ALDEN, 
Brev. Brig. Gen l Comd g 3d Brig. 

On the 17th day of June, 1865, the 115th were 
mustered out of the IT. S. service at Raleigh, N. C. 
The officers and recruits whose time did not expire 
prior to Oct. 1st were transferred to the 47th New 
York, and many of them wept as they parted with 
the old regiment. 

On the 21st day of June, the 115th accompanied 
by the splendid brigade band left Raleigh, and all 
the regiments and bands in the city turned out to 
escort them to the cars. No regiment ever received 
greater honors from their comrades in arms. 

They went by rail to within fifteen miles of Pe 
tersburg, Va., marched to that city, took cars to 
City Point and there embarked on a transport, sail 
ing direct to New York city. 

The 115th reached Albany early on the morning 
of June 26th, and marched up Broadway in splen 
did style, while the cannon at the Capitol thundered 
a welcome. 

After being well cared for, the veterans marched 
to the barracks on the Albany and Troy road, re 
maining there until July 3d, when they received 
final payment and discharge. They then separated 
to their various homes, and the 115th Regiment 
ceased to exist, except in the memory of a grateful 

people. 

15 



CHAPTER Yin. 

MARTYRS OF THE 115TH. 

Capt. William McKittrick, Co. C, killed in 
battle of Fort Gilmer, Ya., Sept. 29th, 1864. [See 
officers of the 115th]. 

Capt. Garret Yan Deveer, Co. A, mortally 
wounded at Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20th, 1864. 
Died Feb. 24th, 1864. [See officers of the 115th]. 

First Lt. Francis H. Francisco, killed in the bat 
tle of Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864. [See 
officers of the 115th]. 

First Lt. Stephen S. Olney, Co. F, killed in the 
charge of Fort Fisher, K C., Jan. 15th, 1865. 
[See officers of the 115th]. 

First Lt. John Yandesande, Co. B, mortally 
wounded in the battle of Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 
16th, 1864. Died Oct. 3d, 1864. [See officers of 
the 115th]. 

Second Lt. Levi Sheffer, Co. G, killed in the 
battle of Olustee, Fla.,^Feb. 20th, 1864. [See offi 
cers of the 115th]. 

Second Lt. William Tompkins, Co. C, killed in 
the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. [See 
officers of the 115th]. 

Sergt.-major E. Raymond Fonda was a native of 
Watertown, Mass., but spent the most of his life 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 171 

in the empire state, claiming her as his home. He 
resided in Cohoes, Albany county, when he enlisted 
in Co. H. He was a mechanic by trade, and twen 
ty-four years of age. Besides the hard service seen 
in the 115th Regiment, he served his country three 
months in a Vermont regiment, early in the war. 
His father had been in the employ of the govern 
ment for nearly forty years; a younger brother held 
the position of sergeant in the regular army, and 
Raymond himself had been familiar with military 
operations from his youth up, so that he was a 
finished and well drilled soldier. Possessed of a 
brave and resolute will, he was a good soldier. 
Blest with a kind and loving heart, he won many 
friends. Pleasant and amiable to both officers and 
men, he was highly respected. He was very fond 
of music, especially patriotic pieces, and his great 
favorite was the soul-stirring anthem, "The Sword 
of Bunker Hill." This he frequently sang in the 
tent and at the camp fire with all the sweetness and 
power of his rich and melodious voice, until the 
strains would thrill through the hearts of all who 
listened, and they would instinctively cry out, " Go 
on go on !" His military career was without a 
single blot, and he died a true patriot and esteemed 
by all who knew him. 

The battle of Chesterfield Heights, Va., was his 
last battle with the rebels. The regiment was ly 
ing behind a bank of earth, firing at the rebels, and 
Raymond refused to lie down with the rest, but 
kept walking along the lines while the bloody con - 



172 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

flict was progressing, making his person a mark for 
the enemy s bullets. Suddenly he sang out to the 
commanding officer, "Major, we are flanked right 
and left !" And sure enough we were flanked, and 
many brave men shed their blood before we cut our 
way out. 

Among the first to fall was E. Raymond Fonda, 
and two frightful wounds sent out streams of blood. 
The soldiers carried his bleeding form from the 
field, and in due time he reached the city of New 
York. After many weeks of suffering he died in 
the arms of his friends. 

First Sergt. Charles H. Bradt, Co. K, was a 
resident of Johnstown, Fulton Co. He joined his 
company as a private, and during the battle of 
Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, he was shot down at 
the head of his company and died instantly, his body 
being left on the field. At about the time of the 
battle, Mrs. John Taylor and daughters, of Clifton 
Park, sent a nice box of choice cake and home 
comforts to the sergeant; but when the messenger 
arrived with it, he found that Charlie had gone to 
his long home, and needed no more earthly com 
forts. 

Orderly Sergt. Chas. S. Fisher, Co. C, was killed 
in battle at Fort Gilmer, Va., Sept. 29th, 1864. 

Color Sergt. Charles B. Fellows, Co. H, died at 
Annapolis, Md. [See heroes who bore our flags], 

Sergt. Joel Alexander, Co. I, was shot through 
the head at the battle of Olustee, Fla., and died on 
the field. He had just returned from home, where 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 173 

he had been on a furlough, and died gallantly 
fighting the enemy of his country. 

Sergt. James S. Arrmock, Co. A, was a resident 
of the town of Glen, Mont. Co., and after fighting 
many battles, he was killed at Deep Bottom, Va., 
Aug. 16th, 1864, and was left on the field. 

Sergt. Harvey C. Christie, Co. E, of Mayfield, 
Fulton Co., K Y., died of fever at Hilton Head, 
S. C., Aug. 2d, 1863. 

Sergt. John K. Clark, Co. K, was -a resident of 
Broadalbin, Fulton Co., N. Y., a paper maker by 
trade, married, and twenty-five years of age. He 
was severely wounded at the battle of Chesterfield 
Heights, Va., May 7th, 1864, and left upon the 
field. He was taken prisoner by the rebels, and 
lingered until Aug. llth, when death came to his 
relief, and he died in the rebel Poplar Lawn hos 
pital, Petersburg, Va. 

Sergt. Patrick Collopy, Co. Gr, a resident of Sara 
toga Co., "N. Y., enlisted among the first in the 
regiment. He did good service for a long time, 
and at the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, 
he was shot through the head by a musket ball, and 
died on the field. His corpse was left where he 
fell, to be treated by the rebels. 

Sergt. Frank M. Conover, Co. D, was killed in 
battle at Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864. 

Sergt. Edward Cowles, Co. K, resided in the 
town of Wells, Hamilton Co. He was engaged in 
several battles, and had his head cut off by a shell, 
at Coal Harbor, Ya., on the 3d day of June, 1864. 



174 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

Sergt. Charles Gross, Co. A, of Fultonville, 
Montgomery Co., received his death wound at 
Coal Harbor, Va. He enlisted in a volunteer regi 
ment early in the war, and after serving out his 
time of service, enlisted the second time in the 
115th, August, 1862. After fighting a large num 
ber of battles, he was badly wounded by a piece of 
shell in the right thigh, at Coal Harbor, Va,, on 
the 3rd day of June, 1864. He died in a hospital 
at Washington, D. C., on the glorious 4th day of 
July. 

Sergt, Nathan Ide, Co. F, was born in Saratoga 
Co., was twenty-seven years of age, and a teacher 
by occupation. He had been studying for the min 
istry, was a good, brave, Christian soldier, and often 
expressed himself as ready to die for his country, 
and ever stood ready to meet his God. He took a 
prominent and active part in the regimental prayer 
meetings and was the means of doing much good. 
During several battles his clothes were riddled 
with bullets, and at the battle of Darby town Road, 
Va., Oct. 27th, 1864, he was killed. His brother 
sent his body home-for burial. 

Sergt. William Henry Kane, Co. I, was a resi 
dent of Saratoga Co., and came out as a corporal of 
the company. For good conduct and soldierly 
bearing he was promoted to sergeant, and for some 
time was acting sergeant-major of the regiment. 
He engaged in numerous battles in the regiment, 
and finally, at the battle of Deep Bottom, Va., on 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 175 

the 16th day of August, 1864, received a severe 
wound from the effects of which he soon died in 
Beverly hospital, N. J. 

Sergt. Levi Lingenfelter, Co. D, was a resident 
of the town of Florida, Mont. Co. He was shot 
through the head by a musket ball at" the battle of 
Olustee, Fla. His body was left on the field. 

Sergt. Stephen Morris, jr., Co. A, of Fultonville, 
Montgomery Co., !N". Y., was shot through both 
knees at the battle of Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20th, 
1864. Died from the effects of his wounds in the 
United States general hospital, Beaufort, S. C., on 
the 13th day of March, 1864. 

Early in the war he enlisted in a volunteer regi 
ment, and after serving his time he enlisted in the 
115th at the date of its organization. 

He was the bravest of the brave, and as long as 
life lasted, battled with the enemies of his country 
with all his powers. At Olustee he was badly shot 
through both knees, so that he was just able to 
crawl. The most of men in that position would 
have given up in despair ; but he, with that resolute, 
iron will, which so distinguished him, determined 
not to die on the battle field, or be taken prisoner 
by the enemy. With the aid of some trusty com 
rades he crawled at night a distance of nineteen 
miles, through the dark and dismal swamps of Flor 
ida, when he reached the Union lines. The author 
saw him lying on a stretcher, on board of a hospital 
boat, and walking to where he lay, asked how badly 
he was wounded ? He replied : " Oh, not very bad, 



176 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

I will soon be all right again." But when he told 
me that bullets had passed through both knees, I 
knew well enough that there was but little hope for 
the brave fellow, and could hardly keep back the 
tears when I realized how near he was to the cold 
gates of death. 

He must have been suffering intense pain, yet not 
a sigh escaped his lips, and a smile lit up his face, 
while his heart seemed the lightest of any in that 
mournful company. 

I thought to myself, how sad it is that such brave 
men should die by the traitor s bullet; yet I thank 
God that we had such heroes to standby our bleed 
ing country, even in the hour of death. 

Sergt. Charles Price, Co. G, had his shoulder 
cut off by a piece of shell at Chesterfield Heights, 
Ya., May 17th, 1864; was instantly killed. 

Sergt. M. Van Steenburgh, Co. E, was always 
known as a brave and efficient soldier, and while 
bravely standing up for his country, fell pierced 
with a rebel bullet. He was killed at the battle of 
Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20th, 1864, and left on the 
field. 

Sergt. James M. Young, Co. I, resided at Fonda, 
Mont. Co. when he enlisted in the regiment Being 
a young man of considerable talent, and having a 
deep love for our common country, he was among 
the first to enlist, and by his pleasing nature soon 
won the esteem of all his comrades in arms. Dur 
ing the summer of 1863 he was taken sick at 
Beaufort, S. C., and when nearly wasted away to a 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 177 

skeleton, he was sent north and reached home just 
in time to die. 

The members of the Cayadutta Cornet Band, of 
Fonda, attended his funeral in a body, in respect to 
his memory. 

Corp. William Pratt, Co. A, was killed in the 
battle of Chesterfield Heights, Ya., May 7th, 1864, 
and buried on the field. 

Corp. John H. Peeler, Co. A, was wounded 
through the left lung, at Drury s Bluff, Va., May 
14th, 1864, and died in the U. S. general hospital, 
Fortress Monroe, Ya. The following inscription 
marks his grave : 

CORP. J. H. PEELER, 

Co. A, 115th N. Y. Vols., 

JDieb 

May 19th, 1864. 

Corp. Lucas W. Mount, Co. B, of Ames, Mont 
gomery Co., color corporal of the regiment, was 
severely wounded at the battle of Chesterfield 
Heights, Ya., May 7th, 1864, while defending the 
colors of the regiment, taken prisoner, and died on 
the 29th day of June, 1864, in the rebel Poplar Lawn 
hospital at Petersburg, Ya. 

Corp. John W. Clark, jr., Co. C., wounded at the 
battle of Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864, and 
died from its effects. 

Corp. Robert Fox, Co. C., killed in battle at Olus- 
tee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and was left on the field. 

Corp. Sidney J. Cornell, Co. C, born at Forts- 
ville, Saratoga Co., Sept. 22nd, 1837, resided in, 



178 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

and enlisted from Jonesville. He was talented, 
patriotic, and a Christian soldier ; left Union Col 
lege, and all the endearments of home to battle for 
the starry flag. He had no less than three brothers 
in the army, one of whom died while serving his 
country. 

At the battle of Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20th, 1864, 
he was severely wounded in the breast, and fell into 
the hands of the enemy where he no doubt died, as 
no tidings have ever been received from him. 

Corp. John S. McMaster, Co. D, mortally 
wounded in the face at the battle of Deep Bottom, 
Va., Aug. 16th, 1864, and died in the U. S. gen 
eral hospital, Fortress Monroe. He was color cor 
poral, and was wounded in the leg at Olustee. He 
was buried at Fortress Monroe, and the following 
inscription marks his grave : 

JNO. McMASTERS, 
Corp. Co. D, 115th N. Y. V., 

EJieb 

September 4th, 1864. 

Corp. Reuben S. Wright, Co. E, of Benson, died 
of fever at Hilton Head, S. C., June llth, 1863. 

Corp. Walter Barnes, Co. F, of Saratoga county, 
was a farmer by occupation, and 25 years of 
age. He was wounded and taken prisoner at 
Olustee, Fla., and died in a rebel prison. 

Corp. S. T. Densmore, Co. G., died in the rebel 
prison at Andersonville, Ga., during the summer 
of 1864, from the effects of wounds received in 
action and cruel treatment. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 179 

Corp. Amasa Bartlett, Co. G, was killed in 
action at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1854. 

Corp. John "W. Dubois, Co. G, was killed by 
a rebel sharpshooter in front of Petersburg, Ya., 
while sleeping at the foot of a tree, on the 27th day 
of June, 1864. He was buried near Petersburg. 

Corp. John Dugan, Co. H, was born in the 
city of Troy, and resided at Waterford when he 
enlisted ; was 20 years of age, and a molder by 
trade. At Hilton Head, S. C., he was promoted to 
corporal. At Beaufort, S. C., while on provost 
duty, the typhoid fever seized upon him, and after 
three days suffering, he died in the regimental hos 
pital. He was buried by a detachment of his com 
pany, in the soldier s graveyard, Beaufort. A neat, 
wooden slab at the head of the grave reads: 

JOHN DUGAN, 
Co. H, 115th N. Y. Vols., 



August - 1863. 

Corp. J. Loran Abel, Co. H, was born at 
Petersburg, Renss. Co., N. Y., but resided at and 
enlisted from the town of Stillwater, Saratoga Co., 
N". Y. His occupation was that of a farmer, and 
he was 22 years of age. He was a good, trusty sol 
dier, a cheerful, devoted friend, and an earnest, 
uncompromising patriot. 

At Yorktown, Va., he received the promotion of 
corporal for good conduct. At Hilton Head, S. C., 
that fearful disease, typhoid fever, laid him upon 
his death bed, and on the 3rd day of July, 1863, at 



180 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the provost hospital, he sacrificed his life on the 
blood-stained altar of his country. He died the 
death of a Christian soldier, and in his last moments 
declared himself ready to go. His remains were 
placed beneath the sand in the soldiers grave yard, 
nearly a mile from the breastworks. 

Corp. James H. Gettings, Co. H, of Water- 
ford, Saratoga Co., was wounded at Olustee, Fla., 
Feb. 20th, 1864, taken prisoner and starved to 
death by the southern chivalry at Andersonville, 
Ga., where he died on the 25th day of August, 1864. 

Corp. Abbott C. Musgrove, Co. H, of Cohoes, 
was killed at Deep Bottom, Ya. (See heroes who 
bore the flags.) 

Corp. James K. P. Himes, Co. 11., of Cohoes, 
was killed at Deep Bottom, Va. (See heroes who 
bore the flags.) 

Corp. Charles H. Mulliken, Co. H, was a native 
of the town of Stillwater, Saratoga Co., JS". Y., and 
resided at the time of enlistment at Mechanicsville. 
He was a blacksmith by trade, and 22 years of age. 

At Hilton Head, South Carolina, Captain Smith 
promoted him to a corporal, and he made an un 
commonly fine non-commissioned officer. He was 
killed at the battle of Olustee, Florida, on the 20th 
day of February, 1864. The regiment was on a 
double quick through some tall reeds in pursuit 
of the enemy, when a musket ball pierced his heart, 
and he fell forward dead, probably never knowing 
what struck him. The boys fought over his body 
for three long hours, but were at last forced to fall 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 181 

back for want of ammunition, and Charlie was left 
among the pines of Florida. He was the first man 
of Co. H who fell in battle, and no nobler youth 
ever laid down his life for the cause of the Union. 
Two brothers were also in the Union army help 
ing on the cause of freedom. 

Corp. Fred. W. Winsman, Co. I, of St. Johns- 
ville, died in Camp Douglas hospital, Chicago, 111., 
Nov. 12th, 1862. 

Corp. Andrew J. Peckham, Co. I, of Galway, 
Saratoga Co., died of wounds received at Coal Har 
bor, Va., June 1st, 1864. 

Corp. Fred. W. Putser, Co. I, of Galway, Sara 
toga Co., died in rebel prison, at Andersonville, 
Ga. 

Corp. J. L. Fort, Co. I, of Charlton, died in rebel 
prison, at Salisbury, N". C., Oct. 12th, 1864. 

Corp. Daniel C. Sherman, Co. I, of Charlton, 
Saratoga Co., died of disease at City Point, Va. 

Corp. James 0. Fox, Co. K, was born in Broadal- 
bin, Fulton Co., April 21st, 1838, and resided at that 
place when he enlisted. He was promoted to cor 
poral for gallant conduct on the battle field of 
Olustee. He was badly wounded in the battle of 
Chesterfield Heights, Va., May 7th, 1864, taken 
prisoner by the rebels, and died in the rebel Poplar 
Lawn hospital, Petersburg, Va., May 31st, 1864. 

Corp. John Parke, Co. K, of Broadalbin, Fulton 
Co., died of fever at Beaufort, S. C., Oct. 26th r 
1863, and was buried on Port Royal island, 
16 



182 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Corp. Alexander Ronald, Co. K, of Wells, Ham 
ilton Co., died at Point of Rocks, Ya., July 31st, 
1864, of wounds received at the charge of Cemetery 
Hill, July 31st, 1864. He was buried where he 
died. 

Musician John Hutchinson, Co. C, died of ty 
phoid fever at Beaufort, S. C., in 1865, and was 
buried on Port Royal island. 

. Musician James M. Dean, Jr., Co. A, died of 
fever at Hilton Head, S. C., in 1863, and was bur 
ied there. 

Musician John Gow, Co. A, died of typhoid fever 
at Beaufort, S. C., July 8th, 1863. He was buried 
on Port Royal island. 

Musician Alvergeen Ackett, Co. A, of Fonda, 
was struck by a timber and instantly killed, by the 
explosion of the magazine, Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 
16th, 1865. 

Musician Paul Crandell, Co. C, died of typhoid 
fever in the U. S. general hospital, Hilton Head, S. 
C., on the 6th day of July, 1863. 

Musician Joseph B. Benson, Co. E, of North ville, 
Fulton Co., N. Y., died of disease at Beaufort, S. 
C., Sept. 24th, 1863. 

Musician George C. Wilder, Co. I, of Charlton, 
Saratoga Co., died of disease at Harper s Ferry, 
Ya., Sept. 1st, 1862. 

Wagoner Nicholas Cavert, Co. I, of Charlton, 
Saratoga Co., died of disease at Beaufort, S. C. 

Acting Hospital Steward Jadua Countryman, re 
sided at St. Johnsville, Montgomery Co., and en- 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 183 

listed in Co. B. He was killed by the explosion of 
the magazine at Fort Fisher, ST. C., Jan. 16th, 
1865. His body was buried so far beneath the 
ruins that it could never be found. 

Privates Co. A. 

James Gardinier received a wound in the breast 
at the battle of Olustee, aud was sent to the hospi 
tal at Hilton Head, S. C. After being there 
several days he was determined to go back to the 
regiment, for he said he would soon befit for duty. 
Just before he intended to start his wound got 
worse, and the next day he was a corpse. He died 
on the 19th day of March, 1864, and his remains 
were placed in the soldiers grave-yard at Hilton 
Head. 

Henry A. Brooks was mortally wounded in the 
battle of Drury s Bluff, Ya., May 14th, 1864, and 
died in the U. *S. general hospital, Fortress Mon 
roe, Va., June 24th, L864. The following inscrip 
tion marks his resting place : 

H. A. BROOKS. 

Co. A. 115th N. Y. Vols., 



June 24th, 1864. 

John Hogan was a resident of the village Fonda, 
Montgomery Co., and had engaged in a large 
number of battles and skirmishes, behaved gallantly 
in each, and was finally killed in front of Peters 
burg, Ya,, the 13th day of July, 1864. He was on 
picket at the extreme front, and was lying down 



184 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

quietly in the pit, when a musket ball from the 
rebels struck a large tree, and glancing back, in 
flicted a terrible wound in his body. Several of 
his own company at the risk of their lives, procured 
a stretcher and bore him to the battle field hospi 
tal. Upon reaching there he begged the surgeon 
not to touch his wound but let him die in peace ; 
then observing that better men than he had been 
killed in this war, expired without a groan. He 
was buried where he died. 

Charles Denegar, killed in the assault on Fort 
Fisher, 1ST. 0., Jan. 15th, 1865. 

John McDowel, killed in the battle of Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and was left on the field. 

Elisha Canson, killed in the battle of Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and was left on the field. 

Martin Timmins was severely wounded at Deep 
Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864, taken prisoner by 
the rebels, paroled, and died in hospital at An 
napolis, Md., Sept. 14th, 1864. 

Peter Lennegar, killed in the assault on Fort 
Fisher, K C., Jan. 15th, 1865. 

John Kaiser, killed in the battle of Fort Gilmer, 
Ya., Sept. 29th, 1864. 

John Halzner, died on pontoon bridge at Point 
of Rocks, Ya., from the effects of sun-stroke, July 
31st, 1864, and was buried on the bank of the 
Potomac. 

John D. Bond, of Glen, Montgomery Co., died 
of chronic diarrhoea at Fortress Monroe, Ya., May 
20th, 1865. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 185 

Charles Devan, of Palatine, Montgomery Co., 
K". Y., was killed in battle at Deep Bottom, Va., 
Aug. 16th, 1865. 

John Fans was wounded and taken prisoner at 
Olustee, Fla., and died at Andersonville, Ga., while 
a prisoner of war. 

George Hart, of Glen, Montgomery Co., was 
wounded and taken prisoner at Olustee, Fla., and 
died at Andersonville, Ga., in 1864, while a prison 
er of war. 

Hiram Lusk, died in U. S. general hospital at 
Fort Schuyler, K Y., Feb., 1864. 

William N. Candt, of Glen, Montgomery Co., 
died in TJ. S. general hospital, 1864. 

Daniel D. Osterhout, died at Hilton Head, S. C. ? 
May 6th, 1863. 

John Robinson was wounded and taken prisoner 
at Olustee, Fla., and died in rebel prison at Andej% 
sonville, Ga., Aug. 22d, 1864. 

John Sherlock was taken prisoner at Deep Bot 
tom, Ya., Aug. 18th, and died in rebel prison at 
Salisbury, JST. C. 

Conrad Smith was wounded at Fort Fisher, N. 
C., and nothing has been heard of him since. 

John Snyder, died of typhoid fever at Hilton 
Head, S. C., June 27th, 1863. 

Wesley D. Van Ausdell, taken prisoner at Pilad- 
ka, Fla., while on picket, and is supposed to be 
dead. 

Rosdell Corlew, died in St. James general hospi 
tal, Wilmington, Jtf. C., March 21st, 1865. 



186 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Robert Baker, taken prisoner at Deep Bottom, 
Va., Aug. 18th, 1864, and died in a rebel prison at 
Salisbury, Nov. 29th, 1864. 

Frederick Cromwell, killed in battle at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and left on the field. 

John A. Lennegar, killed in battle at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and left on the field. 

George H. Bellows, wounded severely in the arm 
at Olustee, and forwarded to the hospital at Hilton 
Head, S. C. He died on the llth day of March, 
1864, and his remains were placed beneath the sand 
in the soldiers grave-yard at Hilton Head. 

Charles Weeper was badly wounded at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, taken prisoner by the rebels, 
and died from the effects of wounds, starvation and 
cruel treatment, at Andersonville, Ga., Aug., 1864. 

Michael Byers, killed in the battle of Chesterfield 
Heights, Va., May 7th, 1864, and left on the field. 

Henry Haiser, killed in front of Petersburg, Va., 
June 30th, 1864. He was buried where he fell. 

Lafayette "Waterman died- in rebel prison at Salis 
bury, N. C., Nov. llth, 1864. 

Privates Co. B. 

Lucius A. Smith, of Canajoharie, was wounded 
and taken prisoner at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 
1864, and died of starvation and exposure at An 
dersonville, Ga., Sept., 1864. 

Alonzo Smith, of Minden, was instantly killed at 
the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and his 
body fell into the hands of the enemy. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 187 

Nicholas Hubert, of Minden, was killed at Deep 
Bottom, Ya., August 16th, 1864, and his body fell 
into the hands of the enemy. 

Reuben Walrath, of St. Johnsville, was mortally 
wounded in the groin by a piece of shell, at Darby- 
town Road, Ya., Oct. 27th, 1864. He was then 
placed in an ambulance for conveyance to the field 
hospital, and not having been heard from since, it 
is presumed that he died and was buried by the 
road side. 

Henry S. Baker resided at York Mills, and died 
at Hilton Head, S. C., of typhoid fever, April, 1863. 
He was buried in the soldiers grave-yard. 

David Bowies, of Canajoharie, N". Y., died of ty 
phoid fever at Beaufort, S. C., Aug. 14th, 1863. 
He was a fine soldier, had formerly been in the U. 
S. service from which he was discharged on sur 
geon s certificate of disability. 

B. Moyer, died in the prison hospital at Savan 
nah, Ga., Oct., 1864. 

Jacob B. Brown, of St. Johnsville, was killed near 
Petersburg, Ya., June 24th, 1864. He and a mem 
ber of the 48th N. Y. were on their way to join 
their regiments in the front trench, and when pass 
ing the second line, a sharpshooter of the enemy 
fired, shooting them both through the head, killing 
instantly. 

John Denmark, of St. Johnsville, died of the lung 
fever at Hilton Head, S. C., May, 1863, and was 
buried in the soldiers grave-yard. 



188 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Henry Goodrich, of Canajoharie, was shot through 
the head and killed, by a rebel sharpshooter, on the 
3d day of June, at Coal Harbor, Va. He was doing 
duty in the front trench, and volunteered to go to 
the rear to take to the front some canteens of coffee 
for the company. He passed safely to the rear, but 
when on his way back, loaded down with coffee, he 
received the fatal wound. He was buried at Coal 
Harbor. 

William E. Flint, of Canajoharie, was shot in the 
breast and killed at Olustee, Fla., 1864, and his body 
fell into the hands of the enemy. 

Daniel Gilday, of Minden, was killed at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and his body fell into the hands 
of the enemy. 

Frank luederlander, of Minden, was instantly 
killed at the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, 
and his body fell into the hands of the enemy. 

John P. Lintner, of Minden, K. Y., was slightly 
wounded in the forearm, at Petersburg, Va., on the 
3d day of Aug., 1864. A month later he bled so 
much that it was deemed expedient to perform an 
amputation, which proved fatal. He was buried at 
Minden, N. Y. 

Richard Maxfield resided at Mindeu, N. Y. He 
was severely wounded and taken prisoner at the 
battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and ex 
changed in Nov., 1864. He died on the cars when 
near home, from the effects of starvation and cruel 
treatment, and was buried at Miuden. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 189 

George Miller, of Fort Plain, died at Minden, K. 
Y., Nov., 1864. 

Privates Co. C. 

Emory W. Hosley, of Edinburgh, Saratoga Co., 
N. Y., died of fever in TJ. S. general hospital at 
Chicago, 111., Oct. 23d, 1862. 

George Coloney, jr., of Galway, Saratoga Co., 
N. Y., died of typhoid fever in U. S. general hos 
pital at Hilton Head, S. C., July 8th, 1863. 

William F. Stewart, of Edinburgh, Saratoga Co., 
"N. Y., died of chronic diarrhosa in U. S. general 
hospital, David s island, N". Y., Sept. 1st, 1864. 

George Van Steenburgh was killed in battle at 
Chesterfield Heights, Ya., and buried on the field. 

Christopher Keenholts died from eifects of wounds 
in right knee at the U. S. hospital, Fortress Monroe, 
Ya., June 17th, 1864. The following inscription 
marks his grave : 

C. KEENHOLTS, 
Co. C, 115th N. Y. Vols., 



June 17th, 1864. 

James A. Wager had his left Jeg amputated, and 
died in the U. S. hospital, Fortress Monroe, Ya., 
The following inscription marks his resting place. 

JAMES WAGER, 
Co. C, 115th N. Y. Vols., 

JDieir 

June 6th, 1864. 



190 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Ferdinand Miller, of Milton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., 
died ofdisease in the regimental hospital at Beaufort, 
S. C., Sept. 22nd, 1863. 

George "W. Luffman, of Milton, Saratoga Co., N. 
T., died of diarrhoea in hospital near Fort Fisher, 
N. C., March 2nd, 1865. 

Yernum Barber, of Gal way, Saratoga Co., ET. Y., 
died of measles in U. S. general hospital at Wash 
ington, D. C., Dec. 7th, 1862. 

Lewis Bertrand, a resident of Ballston, Saratoga 
Co., received a wound in the head at Coal Harbor, 
Ya., and was sent to a northern hospital, and soon 
rejoined the regiment. After taking part in seve 
ral battles he was killed during the charge on Fort 
Gilmer, Sept. 29th, 1864. 

James A. Hanna, killed in battle at Olustee, Fla., 
Feb. 20th, 1864, and left on the field. 

Sidney D. Lincoln, wounded in the battle of Olus 
tee, and died in hospital. 

"W. B. Howe was shot in the head by a musket 
ball and instantly killed, on the 22d day of July, 
1864, while on picket in front of Petersburg. He 
had a presentiment of death, and felt strangely 
when he went on jacket on the fatal morning. His 
body was placed in a rough box made by his com 
rades, and buried on a hill side close by three gal 
lant fellows of the 76th Pa. Should kind and 
loving friends ever desire to find his last honored 
resting place, it would be an easy task, for a neat 
head-board marks the spot, and a little railing en 
closes the grave. The following tender inscription, 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 191 

neatly painted on the board which serves for a 
tombstone, speaks for itself: 

Though Lost to Sight, 

To Memory Dear. 

IN 

Jftemorg 

OF 

W. B. HOWE, 

Co. C, 115th Reg tN. Y. S. V., 

Killed July 22d, 1864. 

George "W. Coloney, jr. was wounded and taken 
prisoner at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16th, 1864, and 
died in rebel prison. 

George M. Evans was wounded and taken pris 
oner at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16th, 1864, and 
died in rebel prison. 

David W. Jones was wounded and taken prisoner 
at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16th, 1864, and died in 
rebel prison. 

Albert Dunning was shot through the head and 
instantly killed on the 26th day of July, 1864, 
while on picket in front of Petersburg, Va. He 
left a widowed mother to mourn his loss, his father 
having been killed a year or two before, by a fall 
ing tree. He was buried at night, by the light of 
a blazing torch, and the inscription roughly carved 
on his tomb stone reads : 

IN 



OP 

ALBERT DUNNING, 
Co. C, 115th Regt. N. Y. 
Killed July 26th, 1864. 



192 THE IRON HEARTED EEQIMENT. 

James II. Wickins, of Greenfield, Saratoga Co., 
K". Y., died of fever in U. S. general hospital at 
Hilton Head, S. C., June 17th, 1863. 

Wesson Benson was killed in battle at Olustee, 
Pla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and left on the field. 

Peter Butler was killed in action at Olustee, Fla., 
Feb. 20th, 1864, and left on the field. 

Phillip S. Christy was wounded in the side and 
arm at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, was taken 
prisoner and died in rebel prison. 

Elam F. Evans was killed in battle at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and was left on the field. 

Dennis Springer was killed in battle at Fort Gil- 
mer, Ya., Sept. 29th, 1864. 

Maurice J. Drynan was killed in battle at Darby- 
town Koad, Va., Oct. 27th, 1864. 

Henry Chute was killed by the explosion of the 
magazine at Fort Fisher, K C., Jan. 16th, 1865. 

William Backman was killed by the explosion 
of the magazine at Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 16th, 
1865. 

Privates Company D. 

Isaac Harrower, died of the chronic diarrhoea, in 
August 1864, at Fortress Monroe, Ya., and was 
buried in the soldiers grave-yard. The following 
inscription marks his resting place : 

I. HARROWER, 

Co. D. 115th N. Y. Vols., 

Bkfc 

August 7, 1864. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 193 

Charles E. Kellog, died of fever, Dec. 16th, 1862. 

John II. Simpson, died in rebel prison at Ander- 
sonville, Ga., April 1st, 1864. 

Alfred C. Saltstein, died of fever, November 
15th, 1862. 

William Thayer, died in rebel prison, at Ander- 
sonville, Ga., Sept. 21st, 1864. 

Chauncey Snider, jr., died of fever, November 
15th, 1862. 

Asa B. Eider, died of fever, November 23d, 
1862. 

James McCollum was killed in battle at Deep 
Bottom, Va., August 16th, 1864. 

Frank Crow, died in rebel prison at Anderson- 
ville, Ga., Oct. 21st, 1864. 

Charles Friny died of a fever at Beaufort, S. C, 
August 15th, 1863, and was buried on Port Royal 
Island. 

William B. Glover resided at Amsterdam, Mont 
gomery Co. He was wounded severely in the 
head at Olustee, but soon joined the regiment 
again. On the 28th day of July, 1864, he was 
mortally wounded in the leg, while on the picket 
line in front of Petersburg, Va., and soon died. 

Peter A. Folensbee was a resident of Hegeman s 
Mills, Montgomery Co. He was shot through the 
head at the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, 
and died instantly. His body was left on the 
field. 

John French, died of typhoid fever May 12th, 

1864. 

17 



194 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

John Turner resided at Amsterdam, was wound 
ed severely in the arm at Olustee, and died in the 
U. S. general hospital, Fortress Monroe, Va., of 
typhoid fever, Sept. 15th, 1864. 

Thomas Heavy, died at hospital in New York 
city, Aug. 4th, 1865. 

Sylvanus N. Dodds was killed on the rail road 
at Chicago, 111., Nov. llth, 1862. 

William E. Colgrove, died in a rebel prison at 
Salisbury, Dec. 3d, 1863. 

Andrew Clark resided at liegeman s Mills, 
Montgomery Co., and died of typhoid fever on 
the 28th day of June, 1863, at Beaufort, and was 
buried on Port Royal island. 

George Cassidy, died of typhoid fever, at Beau 
fort, S. C., on the 8th day of July, 1863. He was 
buried on Port Royal island. 

Win slow Burton, died of chronic diarrhoea, Oct. 
24th, 1864. 

Myron L. Bemus was severely wounded in the 
assault on Fort Gilmer, Sept. 29th, 1864, and died 
Oct. llth, 1864, from the effects of his wounds. 

Roderick F. Barlow was shot through the head 
and instantly killed, at the battle of Olustee, Fla., 
Feb. 20th, 1864, and his body was left on the field. 

Privates Co. E. 

S. A. Johnson, died of wounds received in the bat 
tle of Coal Harbor, Va., June 1st, 1864. He said to 
Chaplain Clemens, after reaching the field hospital, 
" I have fought my last battle, I have got my death 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 195 

wound, but I have no regrets. I enlisted conscien 
tiously, I thought it my duty to defend my country ; 
I have done the best I could. Tell my friends to 
meet me in heaven, I only fear that it will kill my 
mother." The chaplain was with him in his last 
hours, and he says of the dead hero, " Dear boy, 
with many others of our pious soldiers, he has found 
that land where there are no rebels and no war." 

Jeremiah Stenburg, of Ephratah, Fulton county, 
N. Y., died of fever at Fortress Monroe, Ya., Aug. 
26th, 1864. 

P. P. Shuler, of Bleeker, Fulton Co., K Y., died 
of fever at Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 7th, 1863. 

J, Bowman, of New York, was killed at Olustee, 
Fla,, Feb. 20th, 1864. 

H. Hollands, died in a rebel prison at Anderson- 
ville, June 26th, 1864. 

Samuel demons, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., 
N. Y., died of wounds at Fort Johnson, Va., May 
14th, 1864. 

Sanford Shaw, of Mayfield, died at Tallahassee, 
Fla,, Nov. 10th, 1864, from the effects of a wound 
received at Olustee, Fla,, Feb. 20th, 1864. 

J. Stearnocks, died in the U. S. general hospital, 
Fortress Monroe, Ya., of chronic diarrhrea. The fol 
lowing inscription marks his grave: 

J. STEARNOCKS, 
Co. E, 115th N. Y. Vols., 



August 25th, 1864. 



196 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Charles Rood died in the rebel Poplar Lawn 
hospital, at Petersburg, Va., during the summer of 
1864. 

James C. Tompkins, of Johnstown, Fulton Co., 
N". Y., died of fever at Chicago, 111., November 4th, 
1862. 

William Van Ouken, of Gloversville, Fulton Co., 
iN". Y., died of fever at Yorktown, Va., Jan. 80th, 
1863. 

Peter Van Loon, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., N. 
Y., died at Fort Fisher, K". C., Jan. 17th, 1865, of 
injuries received at the explosion of the magazine. 

Joseph Wood, of Ephratah, Fulton Co., K Y., 
died of fever at Hilton Head, S. C., Aug. 7th, 1863. 

Thomas Dooly, of Tarry town, N". Y., died of 
fever at Andersonville, Ga., June 1st, 1864, while a 
prisoner of war. 

Hermon Cool, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., 1ST. Y. 
died of fever at Fortress Monroe, Va., Jan. 3d, 
1865. 

D. B. Dockstater, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., N. 
Y., died in hospital at Beaufort, S. C., March 12th, 
1864, of a wound received at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 
20th, 1864. 

Sanders Johnson, of Ephratah, Fulton Co., N. Y., 
died at Annapolis, Md., Aug. 26th, 1864, from the 
effects of a wound received at Deep Bottom, Va., 
Aug. 16th, 1864. 

William H. Loucks, of Ephratah, Fulton Co., 
N. Y., died of fever at Beaufort, S. C., July 3d, 
1863. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 197 

James H. Platt, of Northampton, Fulton Co., 
N. Y., died of fever at Beaufort, S. C., July 27th, 
1863. 

Abram Rathmire, of Gloversville, was killed at 
Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. 

Andrew Seitz, of Fonda, Montgomery Co., N.Y., 
died of fever at Smithfield, N. C., May 8th, 1865. 

Simon D. Mosher, died of typhoid fever at Beau 
fort, S. C., on the 3d day of Aug., 1863. He was 
buried on Port Royal island. 

Theron Bowman, died of typhoid fever on the 
26th day of June, 1863, at Beaufort, S. C., and was 
buried on Port Royal island. 

George W. Buel, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., N.Y., 
was wounded and taken prisoner at Olustee, and 
died in rebel prison at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 
15th, 1864. 

J. B. Brooks, of Northampton, Fulton Co., 1ST. Y., 
died of injuries received at Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 
17th, 1865. 

B. A. Baker, of Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y, died 
of smallpox at Washington, D. C., Jan. llth, 1863. 

James Bolster, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., N. Y., 
died of fever at Beaufort, S. C., July 26th, 1863. 

"William Montaney, of Oppenheim, Fulton Co., 
N. Y., killed at Darbytown Road, Ya., Oct. 27th, 
1864. 

Smith Travis, of Northampton, Fulton Co., N. Y, 
died of fever in 10th Army Corps hospital, Nov. 
21st, 1864. 



198 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

John Scott, of Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y., died 
of fever at Point of Rocks, Va., Dec. 26th, 1864. 

James Welch, of Tarrytown, 1ST. Y., killed at Olus- 
tee, Fla., Feh. 20th, 1864. 

Charles Rhodes, of Northampton, Fulton Co., N. 
Y., died at Petersburg, Va., June 26th, 1864. 

Privates Co. F. 

William E. Newton was killed at Fort Fisher, N. 
C., Jan. 15th, 1865. 

Charles R. Fryer, died on the U. S. transport 
Spaulding, June 5th, 1865. 

Charles Taylor, of Saratoga Co., was a farmer by 
occupation, and 21 years of age. He was severely 
wounded at Olustee, taken prisoner and died in a 
rebel prison. 

Lloyd Weston, of Saratoga Co., died in a rebel 
prison. 

Ira Washburn, of Warren Co., was a farmer, and 
30 years of age. He died of fever at Hilton Head, 
June 5th, 1863. 

Reuben Yorney, of Saratoga Co., was a carpenter 
by trade, and 28 years of age. He died in Sept., 
1862, while on the march between Harper s Ferry 
and Annapolis. 

Joseph H. Showers, died in the Army Square hos 
pital of fever, in Washington, D. C., Dec. 21st, 
1862. 

John S. Nobles, died Dec. 15th, 1862, of diarrhoea, 
at Princetown, 111. 

Peter Duel, died of fever at Beaufort, S. C., Nov. 
25th, 1863. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 199 

Joshua Stead, wagoner, was severely wounded 
at Olustee, Fla., taken prisoner and died in a rebel 
prison at Andersonville, June 27th, 1864. 

Norval Stewart, of Saratoga Co., was a farmer 
by occupation, and 20 years of age. While going 
to a well to procure water for his comrades, in front 
of Petersburg, he was instantly killed by a rebel 
sharpshooter. He was found lying in the road 
dead, with the canteens strung around his neck. 
A grave was dug, and his remains were placed 
beneath the sod. The following inscription marks 
his grave : 

NORVILLE STEWART, 
Co. F, 115th Regiment, N. Y. Vols., 

Hilieb 

July 5th, 1864. 

Reuben Sherman died of typhus fever, at York- 
town, Ya., Jan. 22d, 1863. 

Henry C. Campbell, of Saratoga Co., was a far 
mer by occupation, and 20 years of age. He was 
severely wounded at Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 
1864, and died in a hospital in New York. 

Cassius M. Burrbee, of Saratoga Co., was a far 
mer by occupation, and 21 years of age. He died 
of fever at Hilton Head, S. C., July 25th, 1863. 

Archibald F. Brooks, of Saratoga Co., was a far 
mer by occupation, and 21 years of age. He died 
of fever at Chicago, 111., Dec. 22d, 1862. 

Charles L. Parker was severly wounded in the 
breast during the fighting at Cemetery Hill, Ya., 
July 30th, 1864, and died in the U. S. hospital, 



200 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT, 

Fortress Monroe, Ya. The following inscription 
marks his grave : 

CHARLES L. PARKER, 
Co. F, 115th N. Y. Volunteers, 



August 23d, 1864. 

Fred. W. Andrews, of Saratoga Co., was a farmer 
by occupation, and 27 years of age. He died in the 
U. S. general hospital, David s island, N. Y., of 
fever, May 2d, 1863. 

Thomas II. Adcock, of Saratoga Co., was a farmer 
by occupation and 24 years of age. He was wound 
ed at Olustee, Feb. 20th, 1864, and died in a hospital. 

S. P. Jeandrean was born in Canada, was 21 
years of age, killed at Olustee, Fla.,Feb. 20th, 1864, 
and his body was left on the field. 

Hiram P. Collins was born in Lewis Co., enlisted 
at Saratoga Springs, was a farmer by occupation, 
and 24 years of age. He was killed at the battle 
of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and his body fell 
into the hands of the enemy. 

Alfred J. Dean, died in U. S. hospital, Fortress 
Monroe, Ya., May, 1865. 

Privates Co. G. 

Michael Kelly, wounded severely in the foot, on 
the 24th of June, 1864, before Petersburg, while 
procuring water from a spring for the men. He 
was sent to the U. S. hospital, Fortress Monroe, 
Ya., where he died of chronic diarrhoea. The fol 
lowing inscription marks his grave : 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 201 

M. KELLY, 

Co. G, 115th N. Y. V., 



August 29th, 1864. 

Martin De Lacatened, killed by the explosion of 
a magazine at Fort Fisher, Jan. 16th, 1865. 

John R. Place, died of diarrhoea in the general 
hospital at Beverly, K J., Oct. llth, 1864. 

Thomas H. Haire, killed in action at Deep Bot 
tom, Va., Aug. 16th, 1864. 

Lorenzo Mallery, killed by the explosion of a 
magazine at Fort Fisher, Jan. 16th, 1865. 

John H. Hough ton, killed in action at Drury s 
Bluff, Va., May 14th, 1864. 

Stephen Deecker, died in an unknown rebel prison. 

James Lexmiss, killed in action at Chester 
Heights, Va., May 7th, 1864. 

John Kober, killed in action at Olustee, Fla., 
Feb. 20th, 1864. 

Hiram Woodcock, died March 3d, 1864, at Lake 
City, Fla., of wounds received in action at Olustee. 

Mark R. Trumble, died of typhoid fever in the 
regimental hospital atBeaufort, S. C., Aug. 7th, 1863. 

Sylvester Andrew, died of typhoid fever at Beau 
fort, S. C., July 23d, 1863. 

Charles B. Deland, died in the general hospital 
at Chicago, of phthisis pulmonalis, Feb. 1st, 1863. 

William H. Wiley, died in rebel prison at An- 
dersonville, Ga., during the summer of 1864, from 
the effects of wounds received in action, and cruel 
treatment. 

William H. Blackwood, died in a rebel prison at 



202 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Andersonville, Ga., during the summer of 1864, 
from the effects of wounds received in action and 
cruel treatment. 

Jarues C. Smith, died in rebel prison at Ander 
sonville, Ga., during the summer of 1864, from the 
effects of wounds received in action and cruel treat 
ment. 

Michael Fethers, killed in action at the battle 
of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. 

Privates Co. H. 

William H. Everetts was a native of the city of 
Troy, resided in and enlisted from the town of 
Clifton Park, Saratoga Co. He was a farmer by 
occupation, and 22 years of age. He was taken 
sick at Bolivar Heights, Va., Sept., 1862, and lay in 
one of the hospitals fit Harper s Ferry during the 
grand artillery fight between the Union army and 
Stonewall Jackson s Corps. The hospital then was 
nearly as dangerous a place as a battle field. When 
the 115th were paroled he was left in the hands of 
the rebels, but the Union army soon recaptured 
Harper s Ferry, when he was sent to his home in 
Clifton Park where he died late in autumn. His 
funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Rose, 
in the M. E. Church in the village of Clifton Park, 
and he was buried in a little grave yard close by 
the church. He was the first member of Co. H 
that laid down his life for our country. 

James Wilson was born in the village of Lan- 
singburgh, Rensselaer Co., but resided in, and 
enlisted from the village of Cohoes, Albany Co., 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 208 

N. Y. He was a knitter by trade, and 17 years of 
age. He was a good soldier, was never sick a day, 
but always on duty and was the pet of the com 
pany. At the battle of Olustee, Fla., he behaved 
very gallantly and fought with the coolness of a 
war worn veteran, but sacrificed his life nearly at 
its close. The brave young soldier fired away his 
own sixty rounds of ammunition, and then sought 
a fresh supply from his dead companion s cartridge 
box. Having loaded his gun for the sixty-first time, 
he turned to Sergt. Gould and in his usual pleasant 
way, said " Alf., which way shall I aim this time?" 
The words had hardly escaped his lips when a 
cruel shell burst in the ranks, and a piece struck 
him in the left thigh, shattering it in the most 
frightful manner. A large stream of blood spouted 
from the wound, and he fell to rise no more. The 
boys carried him a short distance from the field, 
but he was fast bleeding to death and must soon 
die ; so they laid him gently down at the foot of a 
tree. They took his bible and a few little keep 
sakes from his pocket to send to his widowed 
mother, then kneeling down on the ground grasped 
his cold hands affectionately, and with tears in their 
eyes, said "Good bye." He looked up and sweetly 
smiled. It froze on his lips, and he closed his eyes 
in death. 

James W. Hicks was a native of the town of 
Half Moon where he always resided and from where 
he enlisted. He was only 17 years of age and a 
farmer by occupation. Sickness and suffering was 
his portion of soldiering, and he spent the most of 



204 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

his time in various hospitals in different parts of the 
country. At last he was taken from South Carolina 
to New York city, where he died in the month of 
January, 1864. His father reached his bed side just 
in time to see him die, and then conveyed the corpse 
of his son home. 

The funeral services were held in the old Clifton 
Park Baptist church, where he was buried. The 
Rev Mr. Winnegar on the occasion delivered a pow 
erful and patriotic sermon. 

James was an earnest lover of his country and 
stood strong for the Union, but he was not destined 
to live to see the happy day when unity, union and 
prosperity would again dawn upon the land. 

James I. House was born in Waterford, Saratoga 
Co., enlisted from the same town, was a lawyer by 
profession and 34 years of age. During the brief 
time he was in the army sickness was his constant 
companion. He was taken sick while camped in 
the horse-stalls at Chicago, 111., and suffered much. 
A kind and wealthy sister furnished him with all 
the comforts, and even with many of the luxuries 
of life, and sympathizing comrades, although 
themselves nearly helpless, did all that lay in their 
power to mitigate his sufferings, but he continued 
to grow worse, his candle of life was fast going out, 
when eight members of the company took him to 
Camp Douglas hospital. He breathed his last in 
the fall of 1862. His remains were enclosed in a 
beautiful rosewood coffin and sent to his sister in 
Waterford, where he was buried. 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 205 

Lawrence Higgins was born in Waterford, Sara 
toga Co., and enlisted from the same town. lie 
was a cooper by trade, and 18 years of age. "While 
the regiment was encamped on the fair ground at 
Chicago, 111., he was taken with the typhoid fever 
and lay in one of those miserable horse-stalls, until 
all hopes of his recovery were vain. Four of his 
comrades then carried him to a hospital in Camp 
Douglas, already so crowded that it was difficult to 
find room to lay down the new sufferer. He was 
past human aid and soon died. His body was en 
closed in a neat mahogany coffin and forwarded to 
his parents in Waterford. 

Charles H. Degraff was born in the town of 
Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., X. Y., where he always 
resided. He was a farmer by occupation and twen 
ty years of age. For a long time previous to the 
campaign of 1864, he drove a government team, but 
when the regiment embarked on the Florida expe 
dition, he joined the company, and participated in 
the battle of Olustee, where he was wounded se 
verely in the leg. He managed to get several miles 
from the field, when he became exhausted and lay 
down in the woods. The rebels took him prisoner,, 
forwarded him to the capital of the state, where 
he recovered from his wound, and was then hurried 
to that dreadful charnal house, Andersonville, Ga.. 
Starvation, cruel treatment, exposure, deferred hope 
and want of care soon did their work, and Charlie 
died a miserable death on the 18th day of August,. 
18 



206 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

1864, far away from home and loved ones. George 
Cole, one of his comrades, lived to reach home, and 
bore the dreadful tidings of his fate to his father 
and mother. They, of course, were bowed down 
with grief, but rejoiced in giving the precious life 
of their son to our bleeding country. 

Philip Link was born at Brunswick, !N". Y., but 
resided in, and enlisted from the village of Crescent, 
Saratoga Co., N". Y. He was a miller by occupation, 
and 55 years of age. His hair was as white as the 
drifting snow, but his step was as firm and elastic 
as a man of 30 years, and he was always on duty 
until the day of his death. 

He took great delight in hunting and fishing, and 
in South Carolina the most of his spare time was 
employed in knitting large fish nets, trapping quails, 
&c., &c. 

He was killed at the battle of Olustee, Florida, 
on the 20th day of February, 1864. A musket ball 
struck him square in the forehead, penetrated the 
brain and killed him instantly. When shot the old 
soldier did not move a muscle, but turned black in 
the face and fell forward dead, the blood crimsoning 
his silver locks. A considerable amount of money 
was in his pockets, but the battle raged so furiously 
that none could take time to save it for his large 
and needy family, and his body had to be left where 
he fell, to be cared for by the rebels. 

Hiram Richardson was born in Schenectady, 
!N". Y., but resided for a long time, and enlisted from 
Mechanicsville, Saratoga Co., N. Y. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 207 

At Chicago, 111., he was attacked with typhoid 
fever, but in those horse- stalls received but little 
care and no medical attendance, so that he came 
near to death s door. 

Nothing but the coarse rations dealt out by the 
rascally contractors were furnished even the sick 
and dying, and they were so sour and rancid that 
the hearty portion of the soldiers hardly dared to 
eat them. Hiram lay on his scanty pallet of straw, 
groaning night after night, and calling for his 
mother to come and help him, while his faithful 
comrades vainly tried to make him comfortable. 
At last, when life had nearly fled, permission was 
received to carry him to Camp Douglas hospital, 
where he died in the month of October, 1862. His 
remains were enclosed in a neat coffin and forward 
ed to his friends at Mechanics ville, N". Y. 

Hiram died at the early age of 19 years, and with 
the vast throng of brave young men who have died 
for their country, his spitit rests in that land from 
whence no traveler returns. 

Duane Shepard was born in the village of Fonda, 
Montgomery Co., E". Y., but resided for many years 
in the village of Waterford, Saratoga Co., where 
he enlisted. He was a printer by trade, and 18 yrs. 
of age. 

Duane was as brave and as patriotic a soldier as 
ever shouldered a gun in defense of the flag, but 
his constitution was very weak and his health poor. 
He suffered much from sickness while in the army, 
and refused to accept of a discharge until death had 
taken a firm hold on his system. 



208 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

He was honorably discharged from the service of 
the United States at Beaufort, S. C., in the month 
of July, 1863, and reached his home in AVaterford 
just in time to die. 

He was a Christian soldier, and died in the tri 
umphs of a Christian faith. 

All his comrades loved him, and they will never 
forget his gentle manners, his gentlemanly deport 
ment, and many virtues. His whole heart and soul 
engaged in the struggle in which he enlisted to take 
ipart, and woe to the traitor that came within reach 
of his rifle. Being a strong Unionist, he favored 
freedom to all, and believed in crippling the rebels 
in every possible manner. 

"William Smith was born in Prussia, but for many 
years resided in the village of Mechanicsville, Sara 
toga Co., N. Y. He was engaged as a ferryman 
and was 25 years of age. Although a foreigner by 
birth he sympathized warmly with the cause, loved 
dearly his adopted country, and gave his life in 
defense of the stars and stripes. He was very 
intelligent, and understood perfectly the merits of 
the cause in which he was engaged. He was killed 
in the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. A 
musket ball struck him in the forehead, when he 
settled down gently, and in an instant fell forward 
on his face a corpse. 

The most remarkable circumstance connected 
with his life was the fact, that he left the land of 
his birth to escape military duty, and then volun 
teered in the defense of his adopted country, thus 
losing his life. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 209 

James Richards was born in the village of Johns 
town, Fulton Co., and enlisted from Fonda. He 
was a laborer by occupation, and but IT years of 
age. He was tall and slender, and his constitution 
was very weak, so&lt; that he suffered much while en 
during the hardships of a soldier s life. At Hilton 
Head, S. C., he was taken sick with the typhoid 
fever and died during the summer of 1863, in the 
provost hospital. His remains were buried in the 
soldiers grave yard on Hilton Head island, with 
forty others from the regiment. 

He was an orphan, and had an only sister who 
loved him dearly;, and when the sad news of her 
brother s death reached her it nearly broke her 
heart. She gloried in his giving his precious life 
to the cause of liberty; yet it was a death blow to 
a kind and loving heart. 

Richard Francis was born in England, and came 
to the company as a substitute from New York 
city in the month of October, 1863. He was an old 
sailor, having spent the most of his days on the 
ocean. He had served fifteen years in the Ameri 
can navy, and had visited all parts of the world 
while in the merchant service. He was killed at 
the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. A 
musket ball struck him in the forehead and passed 
clear through the head, making a frightful looking 
wound. 

His lifeless body fell heavily to the ground. A 
stream of blood and brains poured out upon the 
earth, and a mangled corpse was soaking in it. He 



210 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

had fought the dangers of old ocean, and breasted 
the storm of battle on board a man-of-war, but met 
his death in the first which he engaged in our land. 

Oscar L. Ackley, of Cohoes, Albany Co., was a 
patriotic, brave and noble soldier. He was never 
heard of after the battle of Olustee, and was proba 
bly killed in that engagement. 

George Alexander, of Clifton Park, Saratoga 
Co., was a brave soldier, fought numerous battles, 
behaved gallantly in each, and was shot through 
the head at Darbytown Road, Va., and instantly 
killed. His comrades buried him where he fell. 

Charles Berry was engaged with the company at 
Coal Harbor, in mining a rebel fort, when a shell 
cut off his head, killing him instantly. He was 
buried where he fell. 

Aaron Dillingham was born in the town of Half 
Moon, Saratoga Co., where he always resided, and 
from whence he enlisted. He was a farmer by oc 
cupation, married, had several children living, and 
was 55 years of age. He left a good home and a 
loving family from motives of the purest patriotism ; 
and although too old to endure the hardships of a 
soldier s life, cheerfully performed every duty as 
signed him. Many of his sick, wounded and dy 
ing comrades, have had cause to bless his name, for 
the fatherly care which he extended to them in the 
hour of suffering, and for kind words of sympathy 
and encouragement which were always flowing 
from his lips. During the most of the summer of 
18G4 he aided the surgeon in his duties, and kept 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 211 

at his post until sickness compelled him to go to 
the hospital. After a continuous illness of several 
months, he died from the effects of chronic diarrhoea, 
at the U. S. general hospital, Fortress Monroe, Va., 
on the 18th day of February, 1865. His son con 
veyed the corpse to his late home in Half Moon 
where the funeral services were held on the 22nd 
day of February. The house was filled to overflow 
ing, and the Rev. Messrs. Duebol, Squires, and Bar 
low, took part in the services. The corpse was 
buried in the family grave yard. 

Thomas Hennigan fought many battles and did 
good service, and died in the U. S. hospital, Fort 
ress Monroe of typhoid fever. The following in 
scription is above his grave : 

T. HENNIGAN, 

Co. H, 115th N. Y. Vols/, 



September 4th, 1864. 

Charles Near, died of typhoid fever in the U. S. 
hospital at Fortress Monroe, Ya. The following 
inscription marks his grave : 

CHARLES NEAR, 
Co. H, 115th N. Y. Vols., 



June 28th, 1864. 

Peter Rinehart, was wounded severely in the an 
cle at Olustee, and was killed during the assault on 
Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 15th, 1865. 

Andrew Stewart, of the town of Clifton Park, 
Saratoga Co., was a good, trusty, and a devoted 
soldier. He was wounded in the body at Olustee, 



212 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Fla., taken prisoner by the enemy, and died in a 
rebel hospital at Tallahassee, April 5th, 1864. 

George Coloney, died of typhoid fever at Beaufort, 
S. C., on the 8th day of July, 1863, and was buried 
on Port Royal island. 

William Taylor, of Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., 
was wounded in the leg at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 
1864, taken prisoner, and died on the cars between 
Savannah and Charleston. 

Privates Co. I. 

Henry Billington enlisted from Canajoharie, was 
severely wounded in the battle of Deep Bottom, 
Aug. 16th, 1864, and died in Beverly hospital, N". J. 

Balremon C. Cristansen died in the rebel Poplar 
Lawn hospital at Petersburg, Ya. 

Ezra Colemau, of Glen, died of wounds in the 
U. S. general hospital, at Fortress Monroe, Nov. 
llth, 1864. 

James H. Core, of Charlton, Saratoga Co., killed 
by a shell in front of Petersburg, Va., July 14th, 
1864. 

R. Craudall, died in a rebel prison at Anderson- 
ville, July 6th, 1864. 

"William Disbrow, of Fulton Co., died of disease 
at Portsmouth, Va. 

Morgan M. Flint, of Fulton Co., killed at the 
battle of Drury s Bluff, Ya., Jan. 14th, 1864, and 
buried there. 

James Jermain, of Ballston, Saratoga Co., died 
in rebel prison at Andersonville, Ga. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 213 

Alexander Kershuskey, died of disease at New 
York city. 

Rensselaer Knight, of Ballston, Spa., died at 
Wilmington, N, C., in March, 1865, and buried 
there. 

Peter Lasher, of Providence, Saratoga Co., died 
of disease at City Point, and buried there. 

Barnard McGuire, of Canajoharie, Montgomery 
Co., died of disease at Annapolis, Md. 

Sylvanus Moyer, of St. Johnsville, killed at 
Chesterfield Heights, Va., May 7th, 1864, and was 
buried on the field. 

Edward Olmstead, of Malta, Saratoga Co., died 
of disease at New York city. 

Daniel Peeler, of Glen, died in a rebel prison at 
Andersonville, June 22d, 1864. 

Francis Rice, of Hadley, Saratoga Co., died of 
disease at Chicago, in 1862. 

Horatio Smith, of Root, Montgomery Co., died 
of disease at Chicago, 111., in 1862. 

Alfred Gr. Snyder was a resident of the village 
of Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y. His age 
was about 16 years, and he joined the regiment at 
Bermuda Hundreds, Va., on the 8th day of May, 
1864. On the 29th day of July the author was 
detailed with a detachment of thirty men of the 
regiment, for the purpose of erecting a mortar bat 
tery on the picket line in front of Petersburg. 
While engaged in the work young Snyder, who 
was one of the detailed, received his death wound, 
and it was the most affecting and heart-rending 



214 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

scene that could well occur, and one that few would 
care to see enacted the second time. We reached 
the ground where the work was to be performed at 
noon, and found ourselves fully exposed to the fire 
of the rebel sharpshooters and mortar batteries, 
distant a few hundred yards. The earth was strewn 
with pieces of shells and cannon balls, and all the 
surrounding trees were riddled by bullets, so it 
was plain to be seen that the rebels had been accus 
tomed to rain their missiles of death in that par 
ticular spot. At first all in front of us was as quiet 
as the grave, and each man began to feel quite 
secure, while the whole force proceeded to fell trees 
and throw up dirt with a hearty good will. One 
of the men soon threw up a shovel full of human 
brains clotted with blood and pieces of flesh, which 
by appearances had but recently been buried. It was 
a sickening sight at best, and all hands made haste 
to cover it from view. An officer informed us that 
it was the remains of a poor fellow who had hia 
head blown from his shoulders the day previous. 
"While the most of the party were gathered around 
the spot, the rebels caught sight of the detail, and 
immediately began to pick us oft*. The Union 
pickets halloed to us to " keep shady," as we were 
on dangerous ground, and declared that they would 
not show their heads above the works, except to 
fire on the rebels. Several bullets went singing 
over our heads and splintered the trees behind us. 
Suddenly I heard a shout which chilled my blood, 
and caused me to start with horror. " Good bye, 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 215 

boys, good bye !" were the words that rang in my 
ears in fearful tones, which seemed burdened with 
the agonies of the dying man. I turned around as 
quickly as possible and soon saw that young Sny- 
der was wounded in the side, and believing himself 
mortally hurt, hastened to bid his comrades a last 
farewell. The bullet penetrated toward the heart, 
making a frightful wound from which the blood 
poured in a great crimson stream. Just as he was 
about to fall, several of us sprang forward, encircled 
him with our arms, and laid him gently on the 
ground. The blood gushed and spouted out of his 
side faster and faster, until he lay soaking in his 
own gore. His comrades were either kneeling or 
standing sorrowfully around him, and tears were 
trickling down their bronzed and war-worn cheeks. 
Two of us turned the little hero over on his left 
side to prevent if possible the flow of blood, and 
began to pour cold water on his head from a can 
teen. He fixed his mild blue eyes upon us as we 
bent over him, and with a sweet smile playing on 
his lips, gave us such a look of thankfulness as 
never shall be forgotten. His face was soon as 
pale and as white as the tomb, his eyes were glassy 
and nearly set, and the death sweat stood in large 
drops upon his brow. At last his lips began to 
move, and with a beseeching and imploring look, 
and in a tone that melted our hearts said : " Bury 
me good, boys, bury me good;" and in a little 
while he added, with his soul true to the last, " I 
enlisted for my country and I can die for it." 



216 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Those were noble words, and the last that the 
young hero ever uttered on earth. The stretcher 
having arrived, he was placed on it and conveyed 
to the battle field hospital. His father was sick in 
the hospital, where we dispatched a messenger to 
tell him to come quickly if he wished to see his son 
alive. He came quickly, but alas ! his fond boy 
was dead. The old man burst into tears and sob 
bed as though his heart would break ; and as he 
looked upon the loved remains, covered with blood 
and cold in death, he said: " It s hard, but I have 
given all of my boys to my country and the cause 
of freedom, and I am willing to follow them." 
With sad hearts we continued our work, and many 
regrets were expressed that one so young and so 
noble, should fall a victim to the most wicked re 
bellion that ever cursed the world ; and one and all 
declared that they never again desired to behold 
such a painful scene. Reader, cannot you shed 
one tear over the memory of one sa brave, true 
and noble ? 

Clark Southwick, of Root, Montgomery Co., died 
in hospital at Beaufort, S. C., of wounds received 
at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. 

John G. Steinbarrer, of Ballston, Saratoga Co., 
died in rebel prison at Andersonville, Ga. 

Patrick Sullivan, killed m front of Petersburg, 
July 30th, 1864. 

Nicholas Yanevera, of Canajoharie, Montgomery 
Co., died of fever at Norfolk, Va., July, 1864. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 217 

Wilbur Wager, of Ballston, wounded and taken 
prisoner at Olustee, Fla., and died in the cars be 
tween Charleston and Savannah. 

Isaac Wariie, of Ballston, died of disease at York- 
town, Ya., and was buried there, 

Privates Co. K. 

Jacob M. Amstead, of New York, was killed in 
action at Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864, and 
left on the field. 

Abram Backnyre, of Palatine, Montgomery Co., 
died of chronic diarrhoea, March 14th, 1865, and 
was buried at Fortress Monroe. 

Peter Bradt, of Coroga, Fulton Co., died after 
being discharged. 

Francis Cole, of Johnstown, Fulton Co., died of 
innamation of the bowels at Chicago, 111., Oct. 
31st, 1862, and buried at the same place. 

Adam Hardell, of New York, died of fever at 
Raleigh, N. C., June 16th, 1865. He was buried 
at Raleigh. 

William Hille, of Coroga, Fulton Co., died of 
chronic diarrhoea at David s island,. ET. Y., June, 
1865, and buried at Coroga. 

Francis Kirsh, of Palatine, died of fever at Hilton 
Head, June 21st, 1863. He was buried at Hilton 
Head. 

Charles Lamb, of Coroga, Fulton Co., died Jan. 
21st, 1865, of wounds received at the explosion of 
the magazine at Fort Fisher, ET. C., Jan. 16th, 1865.. 
He was buried at Fort Fisher. 
19 



218 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Henry Luloy, of Broadalbin, Fulton Co., died of 
fever at Hilton Head, S. C., June 19th, 1863, and 
was buried at Hilton Head. 

Norman W. Lyford, of Broadalbin, Fulton Co., 
was severely wounded at Chesterfield Heights, Ya., 
May 7th, 1864, and died before reaching Fortress 
Monroe hospital. 

Melvin Miller, of Ephratah, Fulton Co., died of 
fever at Johnstown, N. Y., March 5th, 1865, and 
buried at Johnstown. He was on furlough at the 
time. 

Michael Miller, of Glen, Montgomery Co., died 
of chronic diarrhoea at Beaufort, S. C., Jan. 15th, 
1864. He was buried on Port Royal island. 

Charles Moak, of Coroga, Fulton Co., died of 
measles at Washington, D. C., Jan. 2d, 1863. He 
was buried at Washington. 

Alexander Monroe, of Broadalbin, Fulton Co., 
died of chronic diarrhoea at Hilton Head, S. C., 
Oct. 10th, 1863. He was buried at Hilton Head. 

Azuriah Paul, of Wells, Hamilton Co., died of 
fever at Hilton Head, S. C., June 21st, 1863. He 
was buried at Hilton Head. 

Levy Pettit, of Broadalbin, Fulton Co., was killed 
in action at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and left 
on the field. 

Obediah Sprung, of Johnstown, Fulton Co., died 
May llth, 1865, in a rebel hospital at Petersburg, 
Ya., of wounds received in action at the battle of 
Chesterfield Heights. 

Joseph Yanderpool, of Coroga, Fulton Co., was 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 219 

severely wounded at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, 
and died in a rebel hospital at Tallahassee, Fla., 
March 16th, 1864. 

Joseph Wistar, of New York City, was promoted 
to be 1st Lieutenant in 1st Florida Cavalry, was 
soon afterward severely wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights Va., and died on Staten Island, N. Y., in 
1865. 

Omissions. 

Corp. Elisha A. Steere, Co. F, was born in Rhode 
Island, enlisted in Saratoga Springs, was a broom 
maker by trade, and 24 years of age. He was loved 
and respected by the company to which he belonged. 
He was instantly killed at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 
1864, and his body was left on the field. 

Private John Van Brocklin, Co. A s of Johnstown, 
Fulton Co., struck in the side by a shell at Har 
per s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th, 1862, and soon died. 
He was orderly for Col. Sammons. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THOSE WHO LOST A LIMB AND LIVED. 

Capt. Solomon P. Smith, Co. H, had his left arm 
shot off at the elbow in the battle of Deep Bottom, 
Va., Aug. 16th, 1864. 

First Lieut. Charles Kline, Co. D, had his right 
arm amputated at the elbow caused by a wound 
received in the assault on Fort Gilmer, Sept. 29th, 
1864. 

Sergt. Selden C. Clobridge, Co. G, had his right 
arm shot off at the elbow at Fort Gilmer, Va., Sept. 
29th, 1864. 

Corp. Silas Horning, Co. A, had his right arm 
amputated from the effects of a wound received at 
the battle of Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16th, 1864. 

Corp. John Hubbard, Co. A, had his leg ampu 
tated from the effects of wounds received by the 
hand of a guerrilla at Harper s Ferry, Va., Sept. 
18th, 1862. 

John Anderson, of Co. H, had his right hand 
amputated from the effects of a wound received at 
Fort Gilmer, Sep. 29th, 1864. 

David R. Brewer, of Co. D, had his right arm 
shot off at the shoulder at the battle of Deep Bot 
tom, Va., Aug. 16th, 1864. 

James P. Caldwell, of Co. A, had his left leg 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 221 

amputated from the effects of a wound received at 
the charge of Cemetery Hill, Va., July 30th, 1864. 

Mark Cockran, of Co. C, had his arm amputated 
from the effects of a wound by a shell at Coal Har 
bor, Ya. 

Thomas Connolly, of Co. H, had his leg ampu 
tated by the rebels at Tallahassee, Fla. 

Philander Doxtater of Co. E, lost his right arm 
at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug., 16th, 1864. 

James English, of Co. D, lost his right arm Sept. 
7th, 1862, enlisted again in June, 1863, in the 5th U. 
S. Regulars, and was wounded in the battle of the 
Wilderness and on the Weldon railroad. 

Andrew J. Freeman, of Co. C, had his left leg 
amputated from the effects of wounds received at 
Chesterfield Heights, Ya. 

Ambrose "W. Kirkham, of Co. A, had his left leg 
amputated from the effects of a wound received at 
the battle of Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. 

E.- C. Slocum, of Co. I, lost his arm at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. 

John A. Smith of Co. E, lost a leg in battle at 
Chesterfield Heights, Ya,, May 7th, 1864. The 
name of this soldier was published in the papers as 
having died in the Poplar Lawn hospital at Peters 
burg, Ya. Later information shows that he still 
lives. 

"William Smith, of Co. C, lost an arm during the 
assault on Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 15th, 1865. 

Thomas Snook, of Co. G, had his right armampu- 



222 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

tated from the effects of a wound received at the 
battle of Chesterfield Heights, Ya., May 7th, 1864. 

John Traver, of Co. K, lost his right arm in front 
of Petersburg, Va., July 30th, 1864. 

George Yandercook, of Co. H, had his right hand 
amputated from the effects of a wound received at 
Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864. 

Waldo Young, of Co. C, had his leg amputated 
from effects of injuries received by explosion of the 
magazine at Fort Fisher, X. C. 

THE HEROES WHO BORE OUR FLAGS. 

Charles B. Fellows, Co. H, was born in the town 
of Malta, Saratoga Co., K Y., on the 14th day of 
April, 1838. At an early age he moved to the vil 
lage of Mechanicsville, where he was engaged in 
the mercantile business with his father, when he 
enlisted in defense of that flag he loved so well. 
When the company organised at Fonda, they 
elected him corporal by a large majority ; and in 
November, 1863, he was promoted to sergeant for 
soldierly conduct. For a long time he acted as com 
missary sergeant for the company, and in the spring 
of 64 was honored by being appointed to the re 
sponsible position of color sergeant. He carried 
his flag in every battle from Olustee to Fort Gilmer 
and won lasting glory and renown. He bore his 
flag gloriously at the battle of Chesterfield Heights 
where his brother color sergeant was wounded, 
four of his color guard shot, and the flag pierced by 
many bullets. He bore the flag through all the 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 223 

battles around Drury s Bluff and Proctor s Creek, 
when the army of the James were thundering at 
the gates of Eichmond. At the battle of Coal 
Harbor he kept way in advance of the regiment, 
planted his colors on the enemy s works, regardless 
of the rebels swarming around, and kept them there 
until the 115th swept up with the Union cheer, 
and captured 250 prisoners. Each day during the 
siege of the Chickahominy, he planted the stars 
and stripes on our breastworks, that the rebels 
might behold the glorious folds of freedom. Dur 
ing the long and bloody siege of Petersburg, with 
his own hands, he unfurled the battle-stained flag 
to the breeze each day. One night we received 
orders to charge a powerful rebel fort, and we all 
knew that if the order was carried out it would be 
almost certain death to the regiment. As many 
thought so, they wrote their last farewell notes to their 
loved ones at home, and smoked their last earthly 
pipe. Charley was as calm and cool as though 
nothing extraordinary was about to transpire, and 
stood up in majestic dignity. "Lieutenant, if I am 
shot, look out for the flag," he said, as he began to 
unfurl his sacred trust. Beautiful words! Noble 
fellow ! He thought not of his own life ; his only 
anxieties were for his country s flag. At the 
charge of Cemetery Hill he was the first man in 
the color company on the top of our works. With 
flashing eyes he turned towards the regiment and 
shouted, "The order is Forward, tell the boys to 
come on," and he waved the colors, dashed to- 



224 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

ward the rebel works through a fearful storm of 
grape and cannister, and planted his standard upon 
the crest of Cemetery Hill. But the rebels could 
not let it remain there long, without surrendering 
the city of Petersburg ; so they countercharged to 
drive us back. In a few moments, the whole 
Union army, with the exception of a portion of the 
115th, were swept back like a breath of air, in the 
greatest confusion. Sergeant Fellows kept his flag 
upon his works, and brave hearts defended it until 
the rebels swarmed around, and all hopes of suc 
cessful resistance had fled. To escape capture, 
which all considered as worse than death, the little 
party started to return ; and the rebels exasperated 
at seeing their supposed prisoners rushing from 
their bloody grasp, poured volley after volley of 
bullets after the flag, its bearer, and defenders. 
All but two of the party reached the Union lines in 
safety ; but the staff was twice cut oft* in Charlie s 
hands, and eight musket balls and a grape shot tore 
through the bleeding flag. At Bermuda Hundreds 
Captain Smith asked him if he would take the 
right of the company, which [was equivalent to 
promotion. He instantly replied, " No sir, I can t 
give up the old flag." The storming of Fort Gil- 
mer was his last battle with the enemies of his 
country. The regiment had driven the rebels 
nearly four miles, and were preparing to charge a 
heavy fort, which promised to be a desperate under 
taking. One of the boys remarked that it was not 
of any use to try to capture that fort, for it couldn t 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 225 

be done ; then Charlie again exhibited his fearless 
nature. Said he, "If we were all like you, we 
would never accomplish anything. The charge 
commenced, and while leading the regiment, he 
was about the first one to fall. A bullet passed 
through his right leg, when two of his faithful 
comrades, Corporal G-eorge T. Hoag and Peter But 
ler undertook to bear him from the field, but fate 
was against them. He was such a heavy man, and 
the tide of battle was against the Union army, so 
he had to be left on the field to the mercies of the 
rebels. He lay there suffering in the greatest 
agony for twenty-four hours, besides being obliged 
to endure the taunts of his heartless enemies. A 
cruel, unfeeling rebel came along, and instead of 
trying to help him to some hospital, as the dictates 
of humanity should have prompted him, said, 
"You ve got it now, aint you, Yank? " Another 
of the chivalry took his cap and threw down his 
own dirty grey in return. To another he gave his 
watch to ca^ry him to some place of comfort. The 
rebel remained absent for five long hours, leaving 
him to suffer the pangs of hunger, to shiver be 
neath the piercing blast of a cool September night, 
and to suffer the untold horrors of burning and 
choking thirst. At last he was conveyed to a hos 
pital; and there, far away from any friend, and 
surrounded by fiends inhuman form, they performed 
a wretched amputation upon his leg, but did not 
wring from him a single groan. They starved the 
brave man nearly to death, then granted a parole, 



226 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

and he reached Annapolis, Md., where his wife and 
father saw him die. He was buried with military 
honors in the cemetery at Mechanicsville. Although 
a heavy snow storm was raging on the day of the 
funeral, the church was crowded to overflowing 
with sympathizing friends. All the stores, facto 
ries and places of business were closed in respect 
to his memory, and the entire town was wrapt in 
mourning. A beautiful inscription placed above 
the pulpit in the church, read : 

He gave up his life, his country to save, 
And claimed for the sacrifice only a grave. 

Peter J. Keck, Co. E, was one of the brave men 
who bore our flag through many battles, and yet lives 
to receive the thanks of his countrymen. He was 
born at Ephratah, Fulton Co., K Y., on the 12th 
day of September, 1838, and was a farmer by oc 
cupation. At the terrible battle of Olustee he 
stood twenty paces in advance of the regiment for 
over three hours, and was one of the last men in 
the Union army to leave the field. ]Jis flag was 
pierced, his color guard of ten corporals nearly 
annihilated, and his person a bold mark for the 
enemy; yet in the midst of death he escaped with 
his life. When death came the thickest, and when 
a heart of iron might well quail, he waved the 
glorious old flag and thus inspired the hearts of 
his comrades anew. He won the unbounded re 
spect and admiration of all, and his general com 
plimented him on the spot. He was wounded in 
no less than four different battles, and now carries 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 227 

the scars of honor upon his person. Every inch a hero, 
yes, a perfect giant in battle, he is among the most 
modest and unassuming of men ; and what is bet 
ter than all, he is a thorough going Christian. At 
Olustee he was wounded in the thumb, but refused 
to leave the field. At Chesterfield Heights he was 
wounded in the left thigh, the flag staff in his hand 
was cut off, and he fell saying; "Hang on to the 
flag, boys, hang on to the flag." At Deep Bottom 
he was wounded severely in the knee while striv 
ing to plant his flag in the enemy s works. During 
the fierce charge of Fort Fisher, he was wounded 
for the fourth and last time in the right breast. 
This noble man returned to his native county with 
laurels on his brow and with a fire of patriotism 
burning in his breast. His fellow citizens will be 
glad to do him homage, for he shines among the 
galaxy of heroes of Fulton county. The old Em 
pire state is glad to claim him as her son, and all 
the people call him blessed. 

Abbott C. Musgrove, Co. H, was born in the 
town of Bristol, JSTew Hampshire, but took up his 
abode in Cohoes, ET. Y., when quite young. He 
was a knitter by trade, and 19 years of age. An 
older brother is 1st Lieut, in the IstU. S. Regiment 
of repentant rebels, now serving against the Indians 
in the western wilds. Abbott was a good, brave, 
patriotic, Christian soldier, and his mind was stored 
with a world of knowledge for one of his years. 
He was promoted to corporal for good conduct, and 
did honor to the position. For a long time he held 



228 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the position of hospital steward in one of the large 
hospitals at Beaufort, S. C., and at different times 
acted as guard to the colors of the regiment. He 
was a strong, conscientious, devoted Christian, 
and amid all the wickedness abounding in camp, 
preserved his Christian integrity, and lived a pure 
and holy life. He was temperate in drink, food, 
and language. Ko matter how warm or how cold 
the day, or how fierce the battle raged, not a drop 
of strong drink polluted his lips. When offered 
his ration of whiskey, his reply was, " I do not 
drink." Although young in years, he possessed a 
wonderful knowledge of the merits of the great 
issue before the country, and was a warm and un 
compromising Unionist. His hatred against the 
institution of slavery was of the most intense 
nature, and every pulsation of his kind and gene 
rous heart beat loud for liberty and freedom to all 
men, and true to the Union. His love of country 
bordered on the sublime, and next to his God he 
loved the land of his birth. Many times he 
expressed himself as willing to die in defense of 
the starry flag, and when the occasion offered, he 
did not falter, but bore it aloft, and fell, bathing its 
folds in his own best blood. Though small in 
stature, and as fair as a girl in complexion, and 
seemingly as timid, he was sick scarcely a day from 
the time he entered the service until the day of his 
death, and was always found at the post of duty, of 
danger, and of honor. lie kept a complete jour 
nal of all the passing events of his life, and the 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 229 

rich pages were the productions of no ordinary 
mind. He passed through many battles, and en 
dured many hardships and trials, which only served 
to increase his devotion to the sacred cause of free 
dom, and to add new glories to the beautiful temple 
of liberty. At the battle of Deep Bottom, after 
two of his comrades had fallen while bearing the 
regimental battle flag, and when it was sure death 
to any man who dared to hold it in his hands, Abbott 
sprang forward unhesitatingly and grasped it, and 
then unfurled its starry folds to the breeze of heaven, 
when a bullet crashed through his brain, and he fell 
with a mortal wound. His fellow soldiers, at the 
risk of their own lives, carried him nearly a mile 
from the field, where he breathed his last in their 
arms. The last words uttered on earth by this 
young Christian soldier were, "I die happy." He 
died as he had lived, happy in the Lord, and his 
country lost a true patriot and a noble son. His 
body was placed beneath the sod in the great grave 
yard of Virginia, and the beautiful flowers and green 
grass growing around his tomb were watered by 
the best blood of the north. The grave may never 
again be found, for no kind head-board marks the 
place, and no gentle mound rises over the dead 
hero s bones. The soldiers dug a scant hole in the 
ground, and wrapped in a suit of blue, they laid 
him gently down, took the last look at their dead 
comrade, brushed a few tears from their bronzed; 
cheeks, and then covered his lifeless form with earth. 
20 



230 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

James K. P. Himes, Co. H, was born at Rocky Hill, 
Mass., and resided in the village of Cohoes, Albany 
Co., where he enlisted. He was a blacksmith by 
trade, and 18 years of age. An older brother served 
with distinction in the 177th K. Y. Vols. James was 
promoted to corporal early in 1864, and soon after 
ward received the star of color corporal. Kind, 
courteous and respectful to all, he had many warm 
friends. Gallant and brave to a fault, he was 
admired by every true soldier. Patriotic, truthful, 
and a powerful advocate of freedom, he stood in 
the front ranks of liberty. He was in thirteen 
engagements, was wounded in the cheek at Olustee, 
but remained with the company. During the bat 
tle of Deep Bottom the color sergeant was shot, 
when James sprang forward and said to Charlie 
Fellows, who had picked it up, " Give me that flag; " 
he waved it quickly, and then shouted " Come on 
boys, don t stop for that !" and then led the regi 
ment. A bullet soon struck him in the breast, 
passed through his right lung and lodged in his 
knapsack, inflicting a mortal wound. He fell for 
ward, and with his dying breath whispered, " Good 
bye, Charlie ; I die for my country !" These were 
his last words on earth, and the young patriot 
breathed his last on the battle field, amid the roar 
and smoke of battle, with his eyes resting upon the 
stars and stripes. After the work of slaughter was 
finished for the day, a party from the company 
searched among the piles of dead for his body, but 
it could not be found, and was doubtless buried in 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 231 

a trench with a number of others. He died the 
death of a hero, and his remains lie uncoffined in 
the soil of Virginia. 

Lieut. Col. N. J. Johnson took the flag at Fort 
Gilmer, after two color bearers had been shot, and 
in the most gallant manner led the regiment, re 
ceiving a painful wound in the shoulder which 
injured the bone. 

Corp. Peter Butler, Co. H, took the flag from 
the wounded color sergeant at Fort Gilmer, and 
led the regiment until painfully wounded in the 
leg. He was a model soldier and engaged in nearly 
every battle in the regiment. 

Sergt. James D. Thompson, Co. C, and another 
brave sergeant of the same gallant company, bore the 
flags with honor at Maryland Heights, and Bolivar 
Heights, in 1862. 

THE FLAGS. 

. One of the three flags presented to the regiment 
in August, 1862, was torn to pieces at Fort Fisher, 
E". C., and the pieces were divided among some of 
the officers. The others were deposited at the 
bureau of military statistics, at the capital of the 
state ; and those desiring to see two war-worn ban 
ners can find them there, numbered 127 and 128. 

Before returning home, the government pre 
sented the regiment with two beautiful silk flags, 
and upon the stars and stripes are inscribed the 
following principal battles, viz; 



.232 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Maryland Heights, Sept. 13th, 1862. Bolivar 
Heights, Sept. 15th, 1862. Olustee, Feb. 20th, 
1864. Chesterfield Heights, May 7th, 1864. Weir 
Bottom Church, May 12th, 1864. Drury s Bluff, 
May 14th, 1864. Proctor s Creek, May 16th, 1864. 
Coal Harbor, June 1st, 1864. Petersburg, July 
30th, 1864. Deep Bottom, Aug. 16th, 1864. Fort 
Gilmer, Sept. 29th, 1864. Darbytown Road, Oct. 
27th, 1864. Fort Fisher, K C., Jan. 15th, 1865. 
Wilmington, Feb. 22d, 1865. 

BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES. 

The following is a complete list of the battles 
and skirmishes fought by the regiment: 

1. Maryland Heights, Md., Sept. 13th, 1862. 
2. Bolivar Heights, Sept. 15th, 1862. 3. West 
Point, Va., Jan. 8th, 1863. 4. Jacksonville, Fla., 
Feb. 7th, 1864. 5. Camp Finnegan, Fla., Feb. 
8th, 1864. 6. Baldwin, Fla., Feb. 9th, 1864. 
7. Sanderson, Fla., Feb. llth, 1864. 8. Callahan 
Station, Fla., Feb. 14th, 15th and 16th, 1864. 
9. Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864. 10. Pilatka, 
Fla., March 10th, 1864. 11. Bermuda Hundreds, 
Va., May 5th, 1864. 12. Chesterfield Heights, Va., 
May 7th, 1864. 13. Old Church, Va., May 9th, 
1864. 14. Weir Bottom Church, May 12th, 1864. 
15. Drury s Bluff, May 14th, 1864. 16. Proctor s 
Creek, Va., May 16th, 1864. 17. Coal Harbor, 
Va., June 1st, 1864. 18. Siege and battle of the 
Chickahominy. 19. Siege and battles of Peters 
burg, June 23d to July 30th, 1864. 20. Battle and 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 233 

Charge of Cemetery Hill, Ya., July 30th, 1864. 

21. Port Walthall Junction, Ya., May 16th, 1864. 

22. Battles of Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 17th, 
and 18th, 1864. 23. Fort Gilmer, Sept. 29th, 1864. 
24. DarbytownRoad,Ya., Oct. 27th, 1864. 25. 1st 
Expedition to Fort Fisher, K C., Dec., 1864. 
26. Assault and capture of Fort Fisher, Jan. 15th, 
1865. 27. Explosion of the Magazine, Fort Fisher, 
Jan. 16th, 1865. 28. Fort Anderson, K 0., Feb. 
19th, 1865. 29. Advance on Sugar Loaf batteries, 
N. C., Feb. 20th, 1865. 30. Wilmington, K C., 
Feb. 22d, 1865. 

OFFICERS OP THE 115TH, 

Col. Simeon Sammons, resided near the village 
of Fonda, Montgomery Co., IS". Y., when he entered 
the service. Previous to the war he had been col 
onel of the militia, and had held many positions of 
trust in his native town and county. When it was 
proposed to raise the 115th Regiment, the war com 
mittee immediately selected him for its colonel, and 
he did all in his power to recruit the regiment and 
to have it thoroughly organized. He was commis 
sioned colonel by Governor Morgan in August, 
1862, and followed the fortunes of the regiment 
for more than two years. He took a deep interest 
in the regiment, and always took care that it had 
its rights. The colonel was brave and gallant on 
the battle field, and never turned his back to the foe. 
At Olustee he fought with his regiment splendidly, 
and his voice could be heard encouraging on the 



234 THE IRON HEARTED KEQIMENT. 

men amid the rattle of musketry and booming of 
cannon. He rode along the line continually, and 
was always in the thickest of the fight. He was 
wounded slightly in the hand, and received a mus 
ket ball through his foot, shattering it badly. Al 
though bleeding profusely from his wound he kept 
on his horse for half an hour. For a long time his 
life was despaired of and amputation deemed almost 
necessary to save life, but under kind care and skil- 
full treatment his foot was saved. He recovered 
and took command of the regiment the day before 
the explosion of Burnside s mine. During the 
charge of Cemetery Hill the color company were 
nearly surrounded and in great danger of being cut 
to pieces. The colonel came to aid in protecting 
the flag, when a rebel a few yards from him raised 
his rifle, took deliberate aim, and fired, the ball 
passing through the fleshy part of his legs, inflicting 
a severe wound. His military life is without a sin 
gle blot, and he bears the reputation among all his 
officers and men of being a gallant soldier. During 
the fall of 1864 he was elected to the assembly 
from Montgomery Co., when he resigned his com 
mission and was honorably discharged from the 
service. 

Col. N. J. Johnson first entered the army as a 
captain in the 93d X. Y. He was commissioned 
lieutenant colonel, and took command of the 115th 
Regiment in May, 1864. At Bermuda Hundreds, 
Ya., he had a horse shot dead from under him. Du 
ring the battle of Deep Bottom he had command 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 235 

of the brigade and was wounded in the hand. At 
Fort Gilmer he was severely wounded in the shoulder 
while carrying the regimental battle flag. At Fort 
Fisher he has the credit of being the first brigade 
commander who entered the fort. He was slightly 
wounded during the assault. He was a brave officer, 
and fought well in every battle in which he engaged. 
He commanded the regiment when it arrived 
home, and was recommended for promotion to col 
onel. He resided at Ballston, Saratoga Co., was a 
lawyer by profession, and was formerly judge of 
Fulton county. 

Lieut. Col. George S. Batcheller was born in Sar 
atoga county, JST. Y. He studied law when quite 
young, and soon took a high position as a lawyer 
of ability. He was married to the daughter of the 
Hon. James M. Cook, state senator and ex-state 
treasurer. When the war began he was engaged 
in his profession at Ballston Spa, and took strong 
grounds in favor of the government. When it was 
proposed to raise the 115th Regiment he entered 
upon the work of filling up the ranks with great 
zeal, and was eminently successful. He was ap 
pointed and commissioned Lt. Col. of the regi 
ment, and accompanied it to the seat of war, where 
he took part in all the operations in the Shenandoah 
valley, including the battles of Maryland and Boli 
var Heights, and the seige of Harper s Ferry. He 
endured the fatigues and sufferings of the long 
march made after the Harper s Ferry surrender, 
and served the country faithfully while in the army. 



236 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

At Hilton Head, S. C., he was assistant provost 
marshal general of the department of the south 
for a considerable period, and discharged the 
arduous duties connected with his office in the most 
creditable manner. He was on detached service in 
Elmira, N". Y., and late in 1863 he resigned his com 
mission and resumed the practice of law. Gov. 
Fenton selected him to serve on his staff as inspec 
tor general of the state, with the rank of brigadier 
general. 

Lieut. Col. E. L. Walrath was born in Lenox, 
Madison Co., 1ST. Y., on the 2d day of May, 1827. 
He came to the city of Syracuse in 1847, and has 
since made that town his home. He is a manufac 
turer of jewelry and gold pens by occupation. He 
served for many years in various military organiza 
tions in the state, and in 1861 entered the field 
against the south. He was elected captain of the 
Syracuse Citizens Corps, August, 1853, Lt. Col. 
of the 51st K Y. S. M. in Dec., 1853, Col. of the 
same regiment in 1859, and was appointed Col. of 
the 12th K Y. Yols., May 7th, 1861. He served 
under Me Clellan and Me Dowell nearly a year, was 
taken sick, resigned and again entered the service 
as captain of Co. I, 115th K Y. Yols., Aug. 26th, 
1862. He was appointed major of the 115th, Nov. 
24th, 1863, served w r ith it, and had command of it 
in a large number of battles. He was appointed 
Lt. Col., April 29th, 1865. He had the honor of 
commanding the gallant 3d brigade in the battle 
of Deep Bottom, Aug. 16th, 1864, and was wounded 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 237 

in the side by a fragment of shell. He had com 
mand of the brave 1st brigade at the capture of Fort 
Fisher after Gen. Curtis was wounded. At Olustee 
his shoulder straps were shot away. At Chester 
field Heights his horse was shot from under him, 
and he had a second killed in another battle. He 
was provost marshal in Beaufort, S. C., in 1863, and 
in Magnolia, "N. C., in 1865. He fought in about 
thirty battles, and was mustered out with the regi 
ment. 

Major Patrick H. Cowen resided in Saratoga 
Springs, Saratoga Co., N. Y., at the time the regi 
ment was organized. He was a son of the late 
lamented Judge Cowen, and a lawyer by profession. 
He recruited a large portion of Co. G-, was com 
missioned as major of the regiment, and served 
with it until June, 1863, when he resigned his com 
mission and resumed the practice of law. He had 
a considerable number of warm friends in the regi 
ment, who regretted to part with so able an officer. 

Surgeon Carrington McFarland entered the ser 
vice early in the war in the 81st N". Y. Yols. He 
was promoted to assistant surgeon in that regi 
ment and served for a long time with distinction in 
Yirginia. In 1863 he was commissioned surgeon 
of the 115th Regiment, and immediately joined it 
at Hilton Head, S. C. He served with it through 
all its bloody battles and dreary marches from that 
time. At Olustee he established his quarters so 
close to the battle field that he was obliged to move 
several times, and regardless of his own personal 



238 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

safety worked with the wounded until night. In 
Virginia he remained frequently under the heaviest 
fire, so as to be able to assist the wounded the 
moment they were hurt. He gave entire satisfac 
tion to the great mass of the regiment, and many 
of his old associates will ever think of him with 
feelings of gratitude. 

Surgeon Richard E. Sutton was . a practising 
physician of distinguished reputation in St. Johns- 
ville, Montgomery Co., 1ST. Y., when the war broke 
out. At the organization of the 115th he was com 
missioned as its surgeon, and labored hard with it 
for a long time. He was eminently successful as a 
surgeon in the army, and obtained a great reputa 
tion. He was prostrated with a fever at Hilton 
Head, S. C., in 1863, and was compelled to leave 
the service. 

Assistant Surgeon Samuel Peters has resided in 
the village of Crescent, Saratoga county, N". Y., for 
a number of years. At the organization of the 
115th, he left a large practice and a beautiful home, 
to accept the position of assistant surgeon in the 
regiment. At Harper s Ferry he acted nobly and 
cared for the sick and wounded like a brother. At 
Chicago, III., he labored among the sick and dying 
night and day, until nature could no longer stand 
the strain, and he was prostrated with a withering 
fever. At last his health became so impaired that 
he was reluctantly compelled to resign, and he re 
turned to his home, followed by the blessings of 
his comrades. In the army he bore the reputation 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 239 

of being a careful, skillful, and a kind and humane 
physician. 

Assistant Surgeon H. H. Ingerson was a homeo 
pathic physician in the village of Fonda, Mont 
gomery, Co., IS". Y., when the rebellion began. 
He was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 
115th, at the date of its organization, and accom 
panied it to the field. He was overcome by the 
poisonous air in South Carolina, and in October, 

1863, was honorably discharged from the service 
on account of physical disability. 

Assistant Surgeon John P. Perry, Jr., was ap 
pointed to the regiment in 1863. He joined it in 
South Carolina and was very quickly taken with 
the terrible southern fever, and by reason of severe 
sickness was obliged to resign. 

Assistant Surgeon John D. Watson entered the 
115th Regiment in 1864, and served with it through 
some hard campaigns, and was mustered out March 
22d, 1865, to accept commission in 17th !N". Y. 
Yols. 

Rev. S. W. Clemens was born in the town of 
Hyde Park, Lamoille county, Vt, in 1818. For 
twenty-two years he has been connected with the 
Troy conference of the M. E. church, as a travel 
ing preacher. He was commissioned chaplain, 
and went out with the 115th Regiment in Aug., 
1862, remaining until the 15th of September, 

1864, being the only chaplain the regiment ever 
had. He labored hard with the regiment, and 
during the bloody campaign of 64 in Yirginia, 



240 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

probably worked harder than any chaplain in the 
array. He rode day after day many miles through 
the hot sun, to procure delicacies for the sick, and 
early and late was engaged in boiling tea and cof 
fee for the men. He did not hesitate to go where? 
the bullets flew if his work called him there. At 
Drury s Bluff he went out on the skirmish line 
under a heavy fire, to aid in rescuing the wounded, 
and being much worn out lay down to sleep while 
the balls were flying past. In a letter to the author 
he says : 

" As chaplain of a regiment in the army, I found 
I had much to learn ; and that do the best I could, 
it was impossible to give universal satisfaction. I 
am satisfied, however, that the 115th contained as 
noble a class of men, both officers and privates, as 
could be found in the service. The regiment was 
enlisted at a time when large bounties did not tempt 
the cupidity of men, and most of our men enlisted 
out of pure patriotism. A history of the peculiar 
sacrifices and sufferings of the regiment I need not 
write, as your proposed book will contain them, 
written by an abler hand. 

The moral and religious condition of the regi 
ment during most of the time I was in the service, 
I am convinced was as good as most regiments in 
the service. Many of the men were from the dif 
ferent churches, and many more during our stay at 
Hilton Head, S. C., became truly pious. About 
one hundred and fifty professed faith in Christ, 
and I had the pleasure on one Sabbath of couse- 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 241 

crating forty-eight of our noble men to God in 
baptism. 

" The old regiment is about to be mustered out 
of service, having accomplished that for which the 
men enlisted, the putting down of the great rebel 
lion, and sustaining the government and consti 
tution. But alas! many of those noble men who 
went out so full of life, courage, and patriotism, will 
never return. They sleep in a southern soil. 
Sleep in a soldier s grave, where soldiers hands 
have laid them. To do justice to the dead, and 
many of the living of the regiment, would require 
an abler pen than mine. Few if any regiments in 
the service, were better officered than ours. Col. 
Sammons, although he found it, as did the writer 
of this article, impossible to give universal satisfac 
tion, was a good officer, and has left the service 
with honorable scars which he will carry to his 
grave. 

" From his kindness to me, as well as the readiness 
he ever manifested to aid me in my work, and the- 
great respect with which he ever treated religious 
service and effort in the regiment, has greatly en 
deared him to me, and I shall ever respect and 
love him." 

Lieut. Olney, who fell at Fort Fisher, was as 
brave as a lion, and in every respect a noble young 
man ; and the record of those officers was the 
record of many of the privates that fell in the 
ranks. But time would fail me to enumerate, and 
distinctions would be invidious^ 
21 



242 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Adjutant Thomas E. Horton was born in the 
town of Charleston, Montgomery Co., N. Y., on 
the 18th clay of April, 1823. At an early age he 
entered a printing office, where he not only learned 
the printer s trade, but by diligent study and self 
culture, acquired a liberal business education. In 
1841, with the means which he had saved by his 
industry, and upon a credit which his good name 
gave him, he purchased the Montgomery Whig 
establishment at Fulton ville. The paper is now 
known as the Republican, and he lias ever since, 
except while he was in the army, continued to be its 
editor and proprietor. He was successful in busi 
ness, arid soon obtained an influential position 
among the leading men of the state. He has held 
various positions of honor and trust, and has never 
failed of an election when a candidate before the 
people. In 1854 he was the Whig candidate for 
congress in the 18th district, comprising the coun 
ties of Montgomery, Schenectady, Fulton, and 
Schoharie, and was elected by a large majority. In 
the 34th congress he was noted for his faithful 
attention to the duties of his office, and for the 
fidelity with which he represented the sentiments 
of the masses of the people of his district upon the 
great questions of public policy which then agitated 
the country. In 1860 he was one of the delegates 
from New York to the national convention which 
nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. Upon 
the breaking out of the rebellion he entered earn 
estly into the work of securing volunteers for the 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 243 

Union armies, and was among the foremost in his 
section in contributing means for volunteer boun 
ties, and aid to the families of soldiers. In 1862 
he was appointed by Governor Morgan chairman 
of the 18th district military committee. 

At the first meeting of the committee, measures 
were taken for raising the 115th Regiment. He 
consented to accept the office of adjutant, though 
he had previously declined to accept positions of 
superior rank from distrust of his own ability to 
creditably discharge their duties, having had no 
previous military experience. On the 28th of July, 
1862, he enlisted at Albany, and was mustered in as 
adjutant. In less than thirty days he had mustered 
in the entire regiment, which comprised as tine a 
body of men as was ever organized in the state. 
During the same period he prepared his regimental 
books and muster rolls, made his daily reports, 
attended a school of officers to perfect himself in 
military tactics, and gave the necessary attention 
to organizing and disciplining the men. He accom 
panied the regiment to the seat of war in the She- 
nandoah valley, Ya., shared its fatiguing marches, 
its dangers and privations at Charleston, Maryland 
Heights, Bolivar Heights and Harper s Ferry. He 
was ever content to share the often coarse and 
scanty rations of the private soldiers, and to lay 
down with them at night upon the bare ground 
without shelter. The hardships of this campaign 
brought on disease, yet he continued to discharge 
his duties until utterly prostrated, when under the 



244 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

advice of physicians he was compelled to resign. 
His resignation was accepted, and he was honorably 
discharged on the 28th of February, 1863. He 
merited and enjoyed the respect and confidence of 
his brother officers and of the entire regiment. He 
is one of the thousands of true men, who, in this 
great war for the preservation of the Union, have 
shown their devotion to the cause of their country 
to be paramount to all other considerations. 

Captain Hugh S. Sanford was born in Amster 
dam, Montgomery Co., T. Y., and was engaged in 
the mercantile business in the village of Amster 
dam, when the war broke out. He entered the 
regiment in August, 1862, as 2d Lieut, of Co. D, 
and was promoted to 1st Lieut, and adjutant, 
April 15th, 1863. He possessed the finest voice of 
any officer in the regiment, and his word of com 
mand sounded as clear as a trumpet. He served 
in the army for nearly three years and was engaged 
in a large number of battles and skirmishes. At 
Hilton Head, S. C., the officers presented him with 
a fine horse. He served for a long time on the 
staif of the 3rd Brig. 2d Div. 10th Corps, and 
accompanied the remains of the lamented Col. Bell 
to his home in New Hampshire. He was slightly 
wounded in the hand at the battle of Coal Harbor, 
Ya., June 1st, 1864, and received a furlough in con 
sequence. 

Quartermaster Martin McMartin resided at 
Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y., was a lawyer by 



THE IRON HEAETED REGIMENT. 245 

profession, and left a fine practice to accept the po 
sition of quartermaster in the 115th Regiment. He 
entered the regiment in August, 1862, and served 
faithfully with it for nearly three years, being the 
only quartermaster it ever had. 

Captain Garret Van Deveer resided in the vil 
lage of Fultonville, Montgomery Co., was a coal 
merchant by occupation, and like many others, left 
a young wife, a large circle of warm friends and 
the many endearments of home to take up the 
sword in defense of our country. He entered the 
service as Capt. of Co. A, which rank he held to 
the day of his death. At Olustee, Fla., while gal 
lantly cheering on his men he was badly wounded 
through the thigh, and although weak and pale 
from the loss of blood, refused to leave the field ; 
and steadying himself with his sword continued to 
fight. When the conflict was raging the most furi 
ously, and when the red tide of blood drenched the 
soil like rain he was shot through the right lung 
and fell to the ground under a mortal wound. His 
faithful comrades bore him through the swamps a 
distance of nineteen miles, when he rode all day 
and the most of the next night in an open car, 
never as much as sighing, though suffering extreme 
pain. At Jacksonville he was placed on a hospital 
boat and conveyed to Beaufort, S. C. When he 
breathed, the blood filled his mouth, and as he lay 
it soaked the sheets and bedding ; still the brave 
man never complained. Upon reaching Beaufort, 
Chaplain Harris came up to the captain and said ; 



246 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

"Are you wounded badly? " He replied, " Some 
think I m not, but I think lam." He had barely 
reached Beaufort when death came to his relief, and 
he died on the 24th day of February, 1864, and was 
buried beneath the soil where treason first breathed 
hostility to the Union. The funeral was largely 
attended, and the military and the order of Free 
Masons, of which he was a member, accompanied 
his honored remains to the grave. Col. Sammons 
desired to take the remains of the captain home ; 
so the corpse was taken up and sent to Hilton 
Head, and inclosed in a metallic coffin. It was not 
permitted to go on the steamer at that time, and 
several sick and wounded soldiers from the regi 
ment buried him in the soldiers grave-yard at Hil 
ton Head, S. C. General Seymour caused a redoubt 
in the fortifications at Jacksonville to be named 
Van Deveer, in honor of his memory, and noticed 
the captain s gallantry in general orders. Had he 
lived, a Lieut. Col s commission would have been 
his. A brother served as an officer in the Union 
army. 

Captain Sol. P. Smith was born in Clifton Park, 
Saratoga Co., K Y., Aug. I3th, 1830. He began 
to recruit the first company for the 115th Regi 
ment in July, 1862. He was and is yet, "loyal to 
the back bone," and made some stirring addresses 
before the people, urging them to sacrifice every 
thing and protect the honor and life of the nation. 
Like a true man and a brave soldier, he accompa 
nied his command to the field, and fought with it 



THE IKON HEAKTED EEGIMENT. 247 

in every battle until he was disabled, and thus 
compelled to leave the service. 

If ever there was a brave officer in the Union 
army, the subject of this sketch was one. At Olus- 
tee he commanded his company with the greatest 
skill and gallantry, and when the battle closed he 
marched it off in perfect order. When the Union 
line was broken at all points, and it was said the 
rebels were marching to attack, he deployed his 
company across the road and in the woods, stopped 
every Union soldier who approached, and soon had 
a new line of battle formed of several hundred men. 
He was struck by a spent bullet. He was provost 
marshal at Pilatka, Fla., and with his company 
made some daring raids into the interior of the 
state, capturing numbers of the enemy, and keep 
ing the different rebel camps in constant commo 
tion. For the great success attending one of these 
raids, the captain and his men were noticed in 
general orders, and officially complimented by 
General Hatch. General Gilmore also expressed 
his thanks to the captain for the zeal and ability 
displayed by him on that occasion. He had nearly 
sixty Union men in the different rebel camps in 
Florida, who gave him early information of any 
movement about to take place among the enemy. 

At Petersburg and Coal Harbor he built most 
of the advance line of works in front of the 3d 
Brigade, and at the last named place engaged in 
mining a rebel fort. With his company he aided 



248 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

in covering the evacuation of Coal Harbor, when 
Gen. Grant changed his base to the James. 

He was the first man to enter the powerful line 
of works at Drury s Bluff, and commanded an im 
mense skirmish line in that battle. He there had 
the power to take one company of each regiment 
in the division, and storm a rebel fort, but on ex 
amining the position closely, he found it would 
cost a great many men to take it ; so he modestly 
and humanely decided not to sacrifice the lives of 
his soldiers. 

At the charge of Cemetery Hill he fought until 
the last and was struck in the breast by a spent 
ball. At Deep Bottom his left arm was shattered 
at the elbow, and bullets pierced his foot, leg, and 
cheek. His arm was amputated and he reached 
the hospital at Fortress Monroe, where for a long 
time faint hopes were entertained of his recovery ; 
but he finally gained~strength and went home, and 
being unable to perform active service in the field, 
was honorably discharged from the service on the 
14th day of June, 1865. 

He was provost marshal at Hilton Head, S. C., 
and at Sanderson and Baldwin, Fla., and was act 
ing quartermaster at Elmira, N. Y., for several 
months. He was in twenty-two battles and skir 
mishes, and always fought with the most deter 
mined bravery, gaining the admiration of all. On 
the election of Gov. Fenton he was appointed 
assistant inspector general of the state of New 
York, with the rank of Lieut. Col. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 249 

The people of Florida were accustomed to say 
of him, that he did more work than any general 
ever in command there; and although he was very 
strict, yet both Union men and rebels honored, 
loved, and feared him. 

Captain "W. W. French was born in Proctorsville, 
Vt., Sept. 2d, 1835, brought up a farmer boy, grad 
uated at the New York Normal School, Albany, in 
Feb. 1859, and taught school until elected school 
commissioner of the 2d assembly district, Sara 
toga Co., which office he held when he entered the 
service as captain of Co. F, in July, 1862. "While 
bravely fighting the enemy he was badly wounded 
in the right ancle at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, 
and was discharged for physical disability, June llth, 
1864. He resides in the town of "Wilton, Saratoga 
Co., and intends to devote the remainder of his life 
to farming. While in the service he took good 
care of his company, was always on duty, paid strict 
attention to military discipline, and ranked among 
the first in the regiment. At Olustee he went into 
the fight with fifty-nine men, and forty beside him 
self were either killed, wounded, or missing. A 
brother commanded the 77th N. Y. Yols, and served 
through the war with distinction. 

Major Edgar 33. Savage, of Saratoga Springs, 
Saratoga Co., N. Y., first entered the service in 
Aug. 1862, as Capt. of Co. G, 115th Regiment, 
b eing with one exception the youngest officer in it. 
He was taken sick at Yorktown, Ya., with a fever, 
and for a long time bat little hope was entertained 



250 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

for his recovery. Upon reaching home he received 
the best care and the most skillful treatment, and 
was permitted to join his regiment in the depart 
ment of the south. He bravely commanded his 
company in 26 battles and skirmishes. At Fort 
Gilmer, Va., Sept. 29th, 1864, a twelve pound shell 
from the enemy knocked him senseless, cut the back 
of his coat, severed his suspenders, and bruised his 
back badly. Just before the explosion at Fort 
Fisher, in company with several other officers, he 
visited a distant part of the fort to examine the 
work, and thus escaped the effects of that terrible 
affair. After serving faithfully in the 115th for 
nearly three years, he was transferred to the 47th 
N. Y., at Raleigh, X. C., June 17th, 1865. He was 
recommended for promotion to major. 

Captain Isaac E. Smith, born in Minden, Mont 
gomery Co., N. Y., and by occupation a farmer, 
entered the regiment as 2d sergeant of Co. B, pro 
moted to 2d Lt, June 10th, 1863, to 1st Lt.^in Co. 
C, Nov. 1st, 1864, and soon received a commission 
as captain. He was wounded severely in the 
shoulder at Olustee, and received a furlough in con 
sequence. -He served faithfully on the staff of the 
2d Brig., 2d Div., 10th Corps, during the hard 
campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina, and on 
the 17th day of June, 1865, was transferred to the 
47th 1ST. Y. Y. 

Capt. "Willett Ferguson was born at Fort Plain, 
Montgomery Co., 1ST. Y., Jan. 5th, 1832, resided in 
the village of Fonda, and was a merchant by occu- 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 251 

pation. He entered the service as 1st Lieut, of Co. 
A, and was promoted to Capt., Feb. 24th, 1864. He 
was a very brave officer, and fought in fifteen bat 
tles besides numerous skirmishes. At Maryland 
Heights he seized a gun, mounted the breastworks, 
and fully exposed to the rebels, fired many rounds 
of ammunition, while a rebel sharpshooter shot at 
him no less than seven times, and afterward in 
formed the captain that he was the first man his 
rifle ever missed with such a mark. When Gen. 
Miles surrendered Harper s Ferry, he broke his 
sword in pieces rather than let the rebels have it, 
and his friends at home presented him with a new 
one as a token of their esteem for him as a brave 
officer. At Maryland Heights he handled his com 
pany with great skill, and punished the rebels badly. 
He engaged in more than one battle when he ought 
to have been in the hospital, and was finally com 
pelled to leave the army, being honorably dis 
charged, Jan. 1st, 1864, on account of chronic dis 
ease of the liver, contracted in the department of 
the south. He commanded three different compa 
nies in the regiment, and gave universal satisfaction. 
One brother served in the army as captain in the 
cavalry, and another served in the navy. 

Captain William Smith was born in the town of 
Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N". Y., August 28th, 
1824, was married to Miss Jane Lyan, Sept. 17th, 
1851, and was a carriage maker by trade. He en 
tered the service in July, 1862, as Capt. of Co. K, 
and had rank until the regiment was mustered out. 



252 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

He had the honor of being the first officer in the 
regiment wounded. He was hurt severely in the 
leg at Maryland Heights, Sept. 13th, 1862, had to 
be left in the hands of the enemy, was paroled and 
exchanged, and joined the regiment at Yorktown, 
Ya., in Jan., 1863, although still suffering from the 
effects of his wound. At Olustee the clothes he 
wore and a blanket were pierced with several bul 
lets, and his body considerably bruised, yet he es 
caped without serious injury. He engaged in a 
large number of battles and skirmishes, and was 
mustered out with the regiment at Albany, K. Y., 
July 3d, 1865. 

Captain John P. Kneeskern was born in Minden, 
Montgomery Co., K". Y., resided at St. Johnsville, 
and was by occupation a carpenter. He was com 
missioned and mustered as captain of Co. B, and 
held that position during the entire term of service 
of the regiment. His company was made up of a 
splendid class of young men, and many of them 
belonged to the best families in the western part of 
Montgomery county. There were privates in the 
company who were worth large fortunes. The 
subject of this sketch had the reputation of taking 
the best care of his company, and ever protected 
all his men in their rights, though he suffered in 
consequence himself. When a member of his com 
pany was sick he visited his bedside, and on more 
than one such occasion the tears of sympathy were 
observed streaming down his cheeks. He engaged 
in a great many battles and skirmishes, and had 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 253 

numerous narrow escapes. At Olustee the rim of 
his hat was shot off, and at Fort Fisher he was in 
jured by the explosion of the magazine, but re 
mained at the post of duty. He was strict when 
on duty himself, and respected the man who per 
formed his duty properly. He was discharged with 
the regiment at Albany, N". Y., July 3d, 1865. 

Captain William H. McKittrick, resided in the 
village of Ballston, Saratoga Co., ET. Y. When 
the great rebellion began to assume such gigantic 
proportions, he deemed it his duty to sacrifice every 
thing dear to his heart at home, to aid in upholding 
the government. He enlisted in the 115th Regi 
ment, and was commissioned and mustered in as 
captain of Co. C, which rank he held until the day 
of his death. He served through the Mexican war 
as orderly sergeant, and had become a thorough 
soldier. It is believed that he commanded his 
company in every battle in which it was engaged 
to the day of his death ; and although not blessed 
with a strong constitution, shared all the hardships 
with his men. He was most honorable in all his 
dealings with his fellow officers, and never willingly 
wronged any man. At one time he was in a posi 
tion to receive promotion, but refused to accept it 
on the ground that others were more entitled to it. 
He possessed many virtues, and was loved and 
respected by the company he had the honor to 
command. He was fearless, gallant, brave, honora 
ble and kind, and when he fell at the post of duty 
the regiment lost one of its best officers. 
22 



254 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

During the battle of Deep Bottom, Ya., Captain 
S. P.. Smith had his arm badly shattered at the 
elbow and was fast bleeding to death, when the 
subject of this sketch rushed up to him and tied a 
white handkerchief around the captain s arm, in 
the heat of battle, thus saving his life. At the as 
sault on Fort Gilmer, Va., Sept. 29th, 1864, he was 
shot through the breast and fell into the hands of 
the enemy. He is supposed to have been killed, as 
he threw up his arm when struck and was not ob 
served by his comrades to move afterwards. 

Captain Fred. S. Moshier resided at Ballston, 
Saratoga Co., N". Y. He was commissioned 1st Lt. 
of Co. C, and accompanied the regiment to the 
seat of war in August, 1862. He was promoted to 
captain in May, 1864, and mustered in as captain of 
Co. F. He engaged in nearly all the battles with 
the regiment, and was a brave officer. He received 
final discharge at Albany, N. Y., July 3d, 1865. 

Captain David Kettle, of Canajoharie, Montgom 
ery Co., N". Y., entered the 115th Regiment as 1st 
Lieut, of Co. I, and was afterward promoted to 
captain of the same company. At Olustee he 
fought gallantly, and while the bullets were flying 
thick and fast, the colonel rode up to him and re 
quested him to be sure and keep the company in 
line. He replied, "Of course I will colonel, but 
the d d scoundrels have reduced me to the ranks." 
"Reduced you to the ranks! What do you mean 
sir?" thundered the colonel in astonishment. 
"Why," continued the Lieut, (for he was a Lieut. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 255 

then), pointing first toward the rebels and then 
toward his shoulders, "they have shot away my 
shoulder straps." His superior officer saw the joke, 
and rode away with a broad smile upon his face. 
At Chesterfield Heights, Ya., a shell from the enemy 
detached a limb from a tree which fell, and buried 
the captain considerably. After that he was taken 
severely ill and was honorably discharged from the 
service. 

Captain Sidney D. Lingenfelter of Amsterdam, 
Montgomery Co., first entered the regiment as Capt. 
of Co. D, Aug. 26th, 1862. He held rank until 
Oct. 8th, 1864, when he was honorably discharged 
on surgeon s certificate of disability. 

Captain William H. Shaw, of Mayfield, Fulton 
Co., first entered the army as a captain in the 
famous Northern Black Horse Cavalry, and was 
mustered out with that regiment. He was com 
missioned and mustered in as captain of Co. E, 
115th Regiment, Aug. 26th, 1862, and held the same 
rank until mustered out. He engaged in most of 
the battles with his company, and was wounded at 
two different times. At Olustee the point of his 
sword blade was shot off, and it is believed that he 
fired sixty rounds of ammunition at the enemy 
during the battle. At Coal Harbor he was wounded 
slightly in the leg but remained with his command. 
At Fort Fisher, N". C., he was much injured by the 
explosion of the magazine. He was mustered out 
with the regiment. 

Captain Frank D. Barnum, of Charlton, Saratoga 



256 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

Co., N. Y., entered the regiment Aug. 26th, 1862, 
as 2d Lieut, of Co. I. He was soon promoted to 
1st Lieut., and in Feb. 1865, to captain of the same 
company. He served with distinction on the staff 
of the 2d Brig., 2d Div., 10th Corps, for a long 
period, and was transferred to the 47th N. Y., in 
June, 1865. 

Captain Cyrus N". Ballou, of Fonda, Montgomery 
Co., N. Y., enlisted as a private in Co. A, was ap 
pointed orderly sergeant Aug. 20th, 1862, received 
promotion to 2d Lieut, in 1864, and in 1865 to 
captain in the same company. He engaged in a 
large number of battles and did good fighting. 

At Olustee he was slightly wounded. At Deep 
Bottom, Va., Aug. 18th, 1864, he commanded a 
detachment of the regiment on the picket line. 
The rebels swept down in superior numbers, and 
the captain refusing to retreat, was taken prisoner 
by the enemy, fighting to the last. He was placed 
in numerous southern prisons and suffered as 
prisoners generally do at the south. He was ex 
changed in 1865, and as usual, started promptly for 
the front, and served with the regiment until it 
was mustered out, and received final discharge. 

First Lieut. Thomas Wayne, of Florida, Mont 
gomery Co., entered the regiment on the 26th day 
of August, 1862, as 1st Lieut, of Co. D. He served 
with his company through the Maryland and Vir 
ginia campaign, through the campaign of Florida 
in 1864, and did service in Virginia until after the 
regiment moved to Petersburg. He commanded 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 257 

his company at Olustee with skill. At Chester 
field Heights, Ya., a bullet broke the hilt of his 
sword, and two others passed through his coat, yet 
strange to say, he escaped injury. He enjoyed 
poor health while in the army, and was bowed 
down with sorrow when the news reached him of 
the death of his two children. He was honorably 
discharged from the service on surgeon s certificate 
of disability, Feb. 22d, 1865. 

Captain A. C. Slocum resided in Fulton Co., 
K Y., and entered the regiment Aug. 26th, 1862, 
as 2d Lieut, of Co. E. He was afterward promoted 
to 1st Lieut., and in 1865 commanded companies 
A and H. He engaged in nearly all the battles 
with the regiment and escaped remarkably well. 
He was post treasurer at Beaufort, S. C., and went 
home to recruit men for the regiment, after Olus 
tee. His time not expiring prior to Oct. 1st, 1865, 
he was transferred to the 47th 1ST. Y. Yols. 

First Lieut. Jacob Haines, of Fulton Co., N". Y., 
first entered the army in the Northern Black Horse 
Cavalry, and was mustered out with that regiment. 
He entered the 115th, Aug. 26th, 1862, and was 
appointed orderly sergeant of Co. E. He was 
commissioned 1st Lieut, in 1863, and held that rank 
until discharged. He engaged in the operations at 
Harper s Ferry, Maryland, and Bolivar Heights, in 
Sept., 1862, and took part in the battle of Olustee, 
after which he sent in his resignation, and was 
honorably discharged from the service. 



258 THE IKON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

First Lieut. Frank Abbott, of Johnstown, Fulton 
Co., K Y., entered the regiment Aug. 26th, 1862, 
as 1st Lieut, of Co. E. He was with the regiment 
during the campaign of 1862, and resigned Oct. 
15th, 1862, at Chicago, 111. 

First Lieut. Henry Diefendorf, of Canajoharie, 
Montgomery Co., N". Y., entered the regiment Aug. 
26th, 1862, as 1st Lieut, of Co. B, served with his 
company until after it reached the department of 
the south, when he resigned his commission and 
was discharged from the service. 

First Lieut. James M. Hill was born in the 
town of Broadalbin, Fulton Co., K Y., July 3d, 
1836, and was a shoemaker by trade. He enlisted 
in Co. K as a private, was appointed sergeant at 
the muster in of the company, promoted to 1st 
sergeant Oct. 30th, 1862, and commissioned 2d 
Lieut. Nov. 25th, 1863, in place of Francis H. Fran 
cisco, promoted. He was transferred to the 47th 
K Y. Y., at Raleigh, K C., June 17th, 1865, and is 
slill in the servi-ce. He engaged in several battles, 
and for a time was acting quartermaster of the 
regiment. 

First Lieut. Augustus Collier was born in St. 
Johnsville, Montgomery Co., N". Y., and was a 
blacksmith by trade. He entered the regiment at 
its organization as 1st corporal, promoted to 3d 
sergeant Oct. 1862, 1st sergeant May, 1863, 2d Lt. 
Nov., 1864, and commissioned as 1st Lieut, in June, 
1865. He served through all-the campaigns with 
the regiment, and engaged in many battles and 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 259 

skirmishes, and was slightly wounded on one or two 
occasions. He was mustered out with the regiment. 

Second Lieut. Wm. Tompkins entered the regi 
ment from Saratoga Co., N. Y., as 2d Lieut, of 
Co. C., Aug. 26th, 1862. He took part in the Mary 
land and Virginia campaigns of 1862, and fought 
at Olustee in. 1864. Co. C. presented him with a 
beautiful sword, sash and belt at Hilton Head as a 
token of their love for him. At Olustee he acted 
nobly his part in that great conflict, until a rebel 
bullet pierced his brain and he fell to the ground a 
lifeless corpse. His body had to be left where it 
fell, and Capt. McKittrick took the blade of his 
sword arid carried it to his old father in Saratoga 
county. Upon his person was left a fine gold watch 
and considerable money, which some rebel, no 
doubt, took possession of. General Seymour men 
tioned his bravery in general orders, and caused a 
redoubt in the defenses of Jacksonville, Fla., to be 
named Tompkins in honor of his memory. 

First Lieut. Charles L. Clark, of Glovers ville, 
Fulton Co., N. Y., enlisted in Co. E, Aug., 1862, as 
a private. He was afterward made sergeant, and 
in 1865 was commissioned and mustered in as 2d 
Lieut, of Co. E. He engaged in all the campaigns 
with the regiment, and was discharged with the 
same, July 3d, 1865. 

Second Lieut. Levi Sheffer entered the 115th as 
a private in Co. G, from Saratoga Co., N. Y. Early 
in the war he became a member of Fremont s Body 
Guard, and served with that officer through his 



260 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

various movements and battles in Missouri. In 
August, 1862, he was appointed sergeant of Co. G, 
soon afterward orderly sergeant, and in Jan. 1864, 
was commissioned 2d Lieut, of the same company. 
At Beaufort, S. C., Co. G. presented him with a 
sword, sash and belt, as a token of their esteem for 
him. At Olustee he was shot through the heart, 
and died almost instantly. His body fell into the 
hands of the enemy. 

Second Lieut. John "W. Filkins was born in Clif 
ton Park, Saratoga Co., N. Y., was 44 years of age, 
a carpenter by trade, married, and had seven chil 
dren. He enlisted in Co. H as a private, was ap 
pointed sergeant Aug. 21st, 1862, 1st sergeant in 
Nov. 1863, and was commissioned 2d Lieut, of the 
same company in May, 1864. He engaged in fifteen 
battles and skirmishes, shot a rebel at Drury s Bluff, 
fought well in every engagement, and was wounded 
severely in the foot in front of Petersburg, Ya., 
July 29th, 1864. He was discharged Dec., 1864, in 
the U. S. general hospital, Fortress Monroe, on ac 
count of wounds. He had a brother in the 115th. 

Second Lieut. George 0. Smith was born in 
Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and was a son 
of George Smith, a distinguished lawyer in that 
town. The subject of this sketch entered the regi 
ment as a private Aug. 26th, 1862, was appointed 
1st sergeant May 1st, 1863, and Jan. 27th, 1864, 
was commissioned and mustered in as 2d Lieut. 
of Co. I. He served with his company until the 
middle of August, 1864, when he was taken to the 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 261 

Chesapeake hospital sick, and was discharged from 
the service, Nov. 4th 1864. 

First Lieut. Wallace Mclntosh, of Ballston, 
Saratoga Co., enlisted as a private in Co. I, was pro 
moted to sergeant July 1st, 1863, and Jan. 1st, 1865, 
received a commission as 2d Lieut. He served 
with his company through all its hardships and hat- 
ties, and was discharged at Albany, N". Y., July 3d, 
1865. 

First Lieut. George Curren was a resident of 
Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y. He enlisted as a 
private in Co. C, and at the formation of the com 
pany was appointed orderly sergeant. In June, 
1864, he was commissioned and mustered in as 1st 
Lieut, of the same company. He engaged in a 
number of battles, was wounded slightly at Olustee, 
and was discharged from the service on account 
of sickness. 

First Lieut. John Van Desande, born in Minden, 
Montgomery Co., E". Y., resided at Fort Plain, 
and at the period of entering the army was engaged 
in reading law. He joined the regiment as 2d 
Lieut, of Co. B, in August, 1862, and in 1864 was 
appointed 1st Lieut, of the same Co. He was on 
detached service at Elmira, N". Y., for several 
months, and joined the regiment in time to take 
part in the Florida battles. He was engaged in 
ten battles, and escaped without a scratch until 
Aug. 16th, 1864. When at Deep Bottom, Ya,, a 
musket ball struck him above the eye and temple. 
The wound seemed slight at first, but on reaching 



262 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the hospital at Fortress Monroe, an abcess began 
to grow on, and soon terminated fatally. He ex 
pired on the 3d day of Oct., 1864, and his remains 
were placed in the officers burying ground. His 
father and brother stood by the bed as he was dy 
ing, but he knew them not. 

First Lieut. John W. Davis, of Palatine, Mont 
gomery Co., N. Y., entered the regiment in Au 
gust, 1862, as 2d Lieut, of Co. A, and was promoted 
to 1st Lieut, while a prisoner in the hands of the 
rebels. He was a carpenter by trade, and was 
married. He served with the regiment until after 
the battle of Olustee. In that battle he was badly 
wounded through the body and the surgeon pro 
nounced him mortally hurt. His captain received 
a mortal wound at the same time, and the mem 
bers of the company desired to carry them both to 
Barber s, a distance of nineteen miles, but could 
only take one. The lieutenant was lying on a 
stretcher in a piece of woods, and insisted that the 
captain should be taken and himself left. He said, 
"Take Van, for I will soon be dead." The captain 
was taken, and the lieutenant left in the woods, as 
his comrades supposed, to die. The rebels came 
along the next day and carried him to a house, 
where his wound was dressed. He soon became 
able to travel and was sent to a rebel prison. He 
was under fire at Charleston, and served in various 
rebel prisons, suffering much, and was exchanged 
in January, 1865. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 263 

First Lieut. F. !N". Barlow was born, in the town 
of Kent, Litchfield Co., Conn., March 13th, 1822. 
He was the third in a family of five sons, and with 
the exception of the youngest, all became ministers 
of the gospel of peace ; two of whom have passed 
to their reward in the better land. Their mother 
died when the subject of this sketch was only four 
years of age, when the health and pecuniary condi 
tion of the father being such as not to enable him 
to provide a comfortable home for his children, 
they were all scattered in different directions, and 
have never at any one time been together since. 
The lieutenant then lived in two families near the 
place of his birth for nine years, and was treated by 
them in the most shameful manner. His child life 
was fearfully crushed .under the frigid indifference 
and drudging toil, to which for those nine terrible 
years he was subjected. At the age of 13 he went 
to reside with a family at Danbury, Conn., where 
he remained for three years and was kindly treated. 
Here he was permitted to attend the village school 
for three months in a year, but of course he had 
made but little progress at sixteen. At sixteen, 
without a home, without friends to render any as 
sistance, and with fifty cents in his pocket, he 
started out alone on life s great mission. For two 
or three years he was entirely in doubt as to the 
part in this mission he should act. At 18 he spent 
about four months in a private school with decided 
advantage. An opportunity then offering, he read 
law for some months in the office of one of the 



264 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

ablest lawyers in Western New York. Being dis 
suaded by his friends from making law his profes 
sion, he entered the classical school in Castile, K". 
Y. After remaining there a year he went to 
Pennsylvania and taught in . that state with great 
success for five years. His health failing he relin 
quished the profession and in June, 1850, was or 
dained and settled as pastor of the 1st Baptist 
church in Newtown, Conn., and up to the breaking 
out of the great rebellion, gave his attention exclu 
sively to ecclesiastical matters with much success. 
"When the war broke out he felt it his duty to raise 
his voice against those great national sins which he 
judged were the cause of our calamities, and on 
proper occasions did not hesitate to press upon the 
attention of his people their duty to the government. 
When the war began to grow in magnitude, and 
demanded men and means to carry it to a success 
ful issue, he enlisted on the llth of July, 1862. 
His name was the first on the enrollment list of 
Capt. S. P. Smith. He aided in recruiting the 
regiment, and went out as 1st Lieut, of Co. H. He 
was with the regiment at the disgraceful surrender 
of Harper s Ferry, commanded the Co. at Summit 
Point, Va., and during the terrible march after the 
surrender, received injuries from which he will 
probably never recover. He went with his 
Company to Chicago, and from there to Washing 
ton, where he received a leave of absence on ac 
count of his disease. His surgeon informing him 
that he was totally unfit for active service, he re- 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 265 

luctantly sent in his resignation, and was honora 
bly discharged, Feb. 6th, 1863. 

First Lieut. Delos J. Parker, was born in the 
state of Mass., was a book keeper by occupation, 
and resided in the city of Troy when he entered 
the service as a Lieut, in Co. F. For a long time 
he was A. D. C. to Brig. Gen. George D Utassy, 
1st Provisional Brigade, Carey s Division. He took 
part in the Maryland and Virginia campaign of 62, 
and was discharged from the service in 63 on ac 
count of physical disability. 

First Lieutenant Stephen S. Olney was a native 
of Saratoga Co., and resided at Saratoga Springs 
when he entered the service as 2d Lieut, of Co. 
F. He entered the regular army when he was 
eighteen, and served two years as sergeant in the 
cavalry. He was promoted to First Lieut, of Co. 
F, in 1863, and commanded the company in a large 
number of battles with great ability. He was one 
of the best and bravest officers in the regiment, and 
was loved and esteemed by officers and men. At 
Drury s Bluff, while in the heat of action, a rebel 
officer commanding a superior force ordered him 
to surrender his command. He replied "Never!" 
and rallying his men fought desperately until the 
rebels were driven from the field in confusion. 
While leading his company during the fierce charge 
on Fort Fisher, K C., Jan. 15th, 1865, he was struck 
by a musket ball and instantly killed. He was a 
lawyer by profession, and leaves a little daughter 
about four years old, an orphan. 
23 



266 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

First Lieut. Kalph Sexton resided at Caroga, 
Fulton Co., was a farmer by occupation, married, 
and entered Co. K. as 1st Lieut, at date of organi 
zation. His health was poor while in the army 
and he was honorably discharged from the service at 
Hilton Head, S. C., May 25th, 1863, on surgeon s 
certificate of disability. 

First Lieut. Francis II. Francisco was born in 
the town of "Wells, Hamilton Co., resided in the 
same town when he entered the service, and was a 
lawyer by profession. He entered Co. K as 2d 
Lieut., and was promoted to 1st Lieut., Nov. 25th, 
1863, in place of Ralph Sexton, resigned. He acted 
as brigade quartermaster during the Florida cam 
paign, went home to recruit for the regiment after 
it was so reduced at Olustee, and was the first man 
of the 115th to mount the works during the charge 
of Cemetery Hill. He fought bravely in numerous 
battles, and finally at Deep Bottom, Ya., August 
16th, 1864, while leading his own company, was 
shot through the head and instantly killed. He was 
buried under a flag of truce. 

First Lieut. Charles Kline was born in the town 
of Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and resided 
in the village of Tribes Hill at the date of his en 
listment. He was a farmer by occupation, received 
a common school education, and was unmarried. 
He entered the army July 23d, 1862, as sergeant 
in Co. D, was promoted to 1st sergeant, June 12th, 
1863, to 2d Lieut., Nov. 19th, 1864, and to 1st 
Lieut,, May 17th, 1865, holding the last rank at 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 267 

the expiration of service. He engaged in fourteen 
battles and several skirmishes, always fighting with 
gallantry. At Deep Bottom a bullet struck him in 
the breast, causing the blood to flow quite freely. 
During the assault on Fort Gilmer, Va., Sept. 29th, 

1864, his right arm was shattered, and was ampu 
tated at the elbow. From the effects of the wound 
he was confined in the U. S. hospital at Fortress 
Monroe, from Sept. 30th, 1864, to Jan. 26th, 1865, 
and with wonderful perseverance and courage 
joined the regiment at Raleigh, !N". C., May 15th, 

1865. He was on detached service at Elmira, !N". 
Y., from Aug. 15th, 1863, to April 5th, 1864, and 
was mustered out of the U. S. service at Raleigh, 
K C., June 17th, 1864. 

First Lieut. Nicholas De Graff was born in the 
town of Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., !N". Y., June 
9th, 1842. His father s name was Emanuel De 
Graff, and his mother s maiden name Maria Myn- 
derse. Both were Americans by birth, and their 
ancestors were natives of Holland. The lieuten 
ant s father died March 25th, 1865, and his mother 
is yet living. He entered the service July 23d, 

1862, as a private in Co. D, was promoted to 1st 
sergeant, Aug. 21st, 1862, to 2d Lieut., June 12th, 

1863, and to 1st Lieut., Feb 8th, 1865. He enjoyed 
good health while in the service, engaged in nine 
teen battles and skirmishes with the regiment, and 
for a long time was acting adjutant. He was a 
brave young officer, and escaped remarkably well 
considering the large number of battles in which 



268 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

he engaged. At Chesterfield Heights, Va., May 
7th, 1864, he was slightly wounded in the hand, 
and on other occasions had narrow escapes. He 
was mustered out of the U. S. service at Raleigh, 
K". C., July 17th, 1864, and received final discharge 
at Albany, N. Y., July 31st. 

First Lieut. James H. Clark was born in Fonda, 
Montgomery Co., K Y., Nov. 22d, 1842, was a 
farmer by occupation, and resided at the date of 
enlistment at Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., IS". Y. 
He entered the service as a private in Co. H, was 
elected 1st sergeant, Aug. 25th, 1862, promoted to 
2nd Lieut., Feb. 6th, 1863, and to 1st Lieut, in May 
1864. He engaged in seventeen battles and skir 
mishes, was wounded in the right side at Olustee, 
Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and was discharged from the 
service Dec. 29th, 1864, by order of the secretary 
of war on account of physical disability. 

First Lieut. Alfred G. Noxon resided in the vil 
lage of Crescent, Saratoga Co., !N". Y., and was 
commissioned 2nd Lieut, of Co. H, 115th Regi 
ment, when but 18 years of age. He labored hard 
to recruit for the regiment to which he belonged, 
and his efforts were crowned with success. He 
accompanied his regiment and company to the seat 
of war, and won the esteem of all for his kindness. 
He was promoted to 1st Lieut., Feb. 6th, 1863, and 
was mustered in at Hilton Head, S. C. During the 
summer of 1863 he was taken sick with a fever, and 
in Oct. of the same year was discharged on sur 
geon s certificate of disability. He entered the 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 269 

army again in 1865 as a captain in the 192d Regi 
ment, N". Y. Vols., and served in the Shenandoah 
Valley and "Western Virginia. A brother, who was 
an officer in the army, served with distinction in 
the west. 

Capt. David H. Graves, of Saratoga Springs, 
Saratoga Co., K Y., enlisted in Co. G, 115th Regi 
ment, as a private. At the organization of his com 
pany he was appointed orderly sergeant; at Chi 
cago he was commissioned 2d Lieut., and at Beau 
fort, S. C., 1st Lieut, of the same company. He 
was slightly wounded in the thigh at Olustee, but 
did not go to a hospital. He was also wounded 
severely in the head at Petersburg. In 1865 he 
joined the regiment in North Carolina, and when 
it was mustered out of the U. S. service he was 
transferred to the 47th N". Y. Vols. His father is 
a minister of the gospel in Saratoga Co. 

First Lieut. George Farrar, of Saratoga Springs, 
Saratoga Co., N. Y., entered the 115th Regiment 
as 1st Lieut, of Co. G, and served with it in the 
Shenandoah Valley, at Maryland Heights and Boli 
var Heights, and accompanied it to Yorktown, Va., 
where he was taken very sick with a fever. He 
received a leave of absence and went home, and 
upon being partially restored to health, joined the 
regiment again at Hilton Head, S. C. There his 
health grew worse, and he was honorably dis 
charged from the service on surgeon s certificate of 
disability. 



270 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

ENLISTED MEN COMMISSIONED AND NOT MUSTERED. 

John J. Ashman enlisted in Co. I, and resides at 
Maltaville, Saratoga Co., N. Y. He was appointed 
4th sergeant at the organization of the company, 
and 1st sergeant afterward. He was commissioned 
1st Lieut., Jan. 7th, 1865, in place of J. W. Davis, 
discharged. 

John Brand was promoted from 1st sergeant to 
2d Lieut., Feb. 1st, 1865, in place of J. M. Hill, 
promoted. 

Lewis Bailey enlisted in Co. F, in 1862, and was 
appointed corporal. He received promotions to 
sergeant and 1st sergeant, and was commissioned 
2d Lieut., Feb. 1st, 1865, in place of C. Kline, pro 
moted. He was wounded at Olustee, where a roll 
book saved his life. 

Seldon Colbridge enlisted in Co. G as a private, 
was appointed corporal, then sergeant, and finally 
1st sergeant of the same company. He was wound 
ed at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 64, and lost his right 
arm at Fort Gilmer, Va., Sept. 29th, 1864. He was 
commissioned 1st Lieut., -April 29th, 1865, in place 
of J. E. Smith, promoted. 

Fred. S. Goodrich was born at Poultney, Vt., re 
sides at Mechanicsville, Saratoga Co., ET. Y., is a 
watchmaker by trade, and 29 years of age. He 
enlisted in Co. II as a private, and recruited a con 
siderable number of men for the company. He 
was promoted to 2d Lieut, in the 33d U. S. C. T., 
in 1864, and commissioned 1st Lieut, in the 115th, 
June 7th, 1865. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 271 

George T. Hoag was born in Rensselaer Co., !N". 
Y., but for a number of years has resided at Clifton 
Park, Saratoga Co., N. Y., is a farmer by oecupa 7 
tion, and 23 years of age. He enlisted in Co. H, 
in July, 1862, as a private, was elected corporal 
Aug. 20th, 1862, appointed 1st sergeant, Dec., 1864, 
and commissioned 2d Lieut, June, 1865. He en 
gaged in every battle with the regiment with one 
exception, and always behaved with gallantry. He 
commanded Co. H for a considerable time, and was 
severely bruised at the explosion of the magazine at 
Fort Fisher, K C. 

Henry W. Heaton resided at Charlton, Saratoga 
Co., N". Y. He enlisted as a private in 1862, was 
appointed corporal at the organization of Co. I, 
promoted to sergeant, July 1st, 1863, and to ser 
geant-major, Sept. 1, 1864. He was wounded at 
Fort Fisher, N. C., and was commissioned 2d Lieut., 
Feb. 1st, 1865, in place of J. W. Filkins, discharged. 

Peter J. Keck enlisted in Co. E, in 1862, and re 
sides at Lassellsville, Fulton Co., IS". Y. He was 
promoted to sergeant and soon became color ser 
geant of the regiment. He carried his flag in many 
battles with great gallantry, and was wounded in 
four different engagements. He was commissioned 
1st Lieut., April 29th, 1865, in place of J. A. Herne, 
not mustered. 

Luther M. Loper enlisted in Co. G at its organi 
zation, was afterward appointed sergeant, and finally 
1st sergeant of the same company. He fought in 
a large number of battles, was badly wounded in 



272 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the breast at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20th, 1864, and 
again received a severe wound at Fort Gilmer, Va., 
Sept. 29th, 1864. He was commissioned 1st Lieut., 
Feb. 1st, 1865, in place of F. H. Francisco, killed. 

Charles Marselis was promoted from 1st sergeant 
to 2d Lieut., Feb. 23d, 1865, in place of W. M. 
Mclntosh, promoted. 

Beekman R. Near enlisted in Co. I as a private, 
was promoted to corporal, Feb., 1863, and to ser 
geant, Nov. 1st, 1864. He was wounded at Fort 
Fisher, N. C., and commissioned 2d Lieut., April 
21st, 1865, in place of L. Shefter, killed in action. 

John Rearden was born at Malone, Franklin Co., 
N. Y., and is by occupation a carpenter, residing in 
Glen, Montgomery Co., N. Y. He entered the 
regiment as 3d corporal of Co. B, was promoted to 
3d sergeant in 1863, to 1st sergeant, Nov. 7th, 1864, 
and received a commission as 2d Lieut., June, 1865. 
He served with honor for three years, and was 
always noted as a faithful and well drilled soldier. 
He fought in a large number of battles. 

James W. Van Arnam was born in Lewis Co., 
N. Y. resides at Fonda, N. Y., is a laborer by occu 
pation, and twenty-three years of age. He enlisted 
in Co. A, July 29th, 1862, was appointed sergeant, 
Aug. 26th, 1862, taken prisoner at Deep Bottom 
Aug. 18th, 1864, paroled Nov., 1864, promoted to 
1st sergeant, May 1st, 1865, and commissioned as 
2d Lieut, in June, 1865. 

George II. Weeks was promoted from 1st sergeant 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 273 

to 1st Lieut., June 8th, 1865, in place of F. S. Good 
rich, declined. 

Joseph Wester resided in New York city, and 
joined Co. K as a recruit in 1864. He was commis 
sioned 1st Lieut in the 1st Florida cavalry, but 
shortly afterward taking part in the battle of Ches 
terfield Heights, he was mortally wounded and 
soon died in New York. 

Sergeant-major E. S. Hay wood was born in Wa- 
terford, Saratoga Co., K Y., in 1838, lived in Troy 
from 1840 to 1854, when his father removed to 
Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., purchasing the 
Recorder printing office. Here he acquired a 
practical knowledge of the printing business. At 
the time of the uprising of the people which fol 
lowed the first call to arms, he was teaching vocal 
music at the seminary at Fort Plain. At that time 
he caught the spirit of the conflict, but not being 
of an impulsive nature, saw the great rush to arms 
with a determination to enter the struggle him 
self when the slackened ardor of the others de 
manded. In 1862 the first call for 300,000 more 
met with a hearty response, and with authority 
from the state, he commenced recruiting the first 
one in Montgomery Co. He was then in the print 
ing business at Amsterdam, and securing a person 
to attend to his business, entered heart and soul 
into the work. The local committee of his town 
selected him for captain, but before the ranks were 
filled so many other recruiting offices sprang up, 
that a consolidation became necessary, and through 



274 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

some means he was thrown out, having frequently 
expressed himself willing to serve in any capacity. 
Unwilling to urge others to do what he would 
shrink from himself, he entered the service (on ac 
count of non-acceptance by the surgeon) as a free 
volunteer, performing the arduous duties of ser 
geant-major without hope of fee or reward. His 
friends in Amsterdam in appreciation of his con 
duct, presented him with a handsome sword. 
Throughout the short campaign which culminated 
in the surrender of Harper s Ferry, and during the 
transportation to Illinois, he fulfilled the duties of 
his post, never shrinking from active duty in action 
or when danger was imminent, although he well 
knew if disabled he could have no claim for pension 
or services. After remaining at Chicago with the 
regiment for two months, and seeing no prospect 
of immediate exchange he returned home, but not 
soon enough to escape the western fever (resulting 
from exposure) which carried so many of our com 
rades to their late resting place. Though receiving 
no pecuniary compensation for services, or even 
seeking for any, he had the noble satisfaction of 
winning the respect of all who knew him, as 
evinced by acts of kindness and attention from the 
rank and file, and from high testimonials bestowed 
upon him by the field, staff and line, together with 
the oft expressed regrets at his departure. He is 
now residing at Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., as 
co-publisher of the Recorder. 



CHAPTER X. 



PROMOTIONS. 

The following is a complete list 
tions made in the regiment during 

Bank. 

Lt. Col. Nathan J. Johnson Colonel 

Major Ezra L. Walrath Lt. Col. 

Capt. Egbert B. Savage Major 

1st Lieut. Francis D. Barnum Captain 

2d Lieut. Cyrus N. Ballou " 

1st Lieut. David H. Graves " 

1st Lieut. Aaron C. Slocum " 
Adjt. Hugh S. Sanford 

1st Lieut. Isaac E. Smith 

1st Sergt. John J. Ashman 1st Lieut. 

2d Lieut. Charles L. Clark " 

1st Sergt. Seldon C. Colbridge " 

2d Lieut. John A. Collier " 

2d Lieut. Fred. S. Goodrich " 

2d Lieut. James M. Hill " 

2d Lieut. Wallace Mclntosli " 

2d Lieut. Charles Kline " 

Color Sergt. Peter G. Keck " 

1st Sergt. Luther M. Loper " 

1st Sergt. George H. Weeks " 

1st Sergt. John Brand 2d Lieut. 

1st Sergt. Lewis S. Bailey " 

Sergt. -major Henry W. Heaton " 

1st Sergt. George T. Hoag " 

1st Sergt. Charles Marselis " 

1st Sergt. Beekman R. Near " 

1st Sergt. John Rearden " 
1 st Sergt. James W. Van Arnam " 



of all the promo- 
the year 1865. 

Date of commission. 
Apr. 29 June 17 



Feb. I May 17 

Jan. 21 April 6 

April 29 May 17 
Feb. 23 

April 29 " 
Jan. 7 
April 29 



June 7 
May 17 



Feb. 23 

June 7 

Feb. 1 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 1 

April 26 June 17 

Feb. 1 May 17 

June 8 June 27 

Feb 1 May 17 



April 29 June 27 
Feb. 23 May 17 
April 21 
Feb. 23 
June 21 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE ROLL OF HONOR CASUALTIES IN THE 115TH. 

[NOTE. The killed and wounded of the regiment number about 
800. Complete lists of casualties could not be obtained from 
all the companies.] 

Field and Staff. 

Col. Simeon Sammons, wounded at Olustee and 
at Petersburg. 

Col. N". J. Johnson, wounded at Deep Bottom, 
Fort Gilrner and at Fort Fisher. 

Lt, Col. E. L. Walrath, hit at Olustee, wounded 
at Deep Bottom. 

Adjt. H. S. Sanford, wounded at Coal Harbor. 
Company A. 

Capt. C. N. Ballon, wounded at Olustee, and 
wounded and captured at Deep Bottom. 

Capt. Garret Van Deveer, wounded severely in 
the leg, and mortally in breast at Olustee. 

Second Lieut. John W. Davis, severely wounded 
and taken prisoner at Olustee. 

First Sergt. J. W. Van Arnam, captured at Deep 
Bottom. 

Sergt. James S. Arrmock, wounded at Olustee, 
and killed at Deep Bottom. 

Sergt. Charles Gross, mortally wounded at Coal 
Harbor. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 277 

Sergt. Oliver Lighthall, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Sergt. Stephen Morris, jr., wounded at Maryland 
Heights, and mortally wounded through both knees 
at Olustee. 

Corp. Charles Clapson, mortally wounded by 
the accidental discharge of a gun at Hilton Head. 

Corp. John Dutcher, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. Charles Eignbroadt, wounded at Chester 
field Heights. 

Corp. Silas "W. Horning, wounded at Deep Bot 
tom. 

Corp. John A. Hubbard, wounded at Harper s 
Ferry. 

Corp. Alfred J. Kesler, wounded and captured 
at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. John H. Peeler, mortally wounded at 
Drury s Bluff. 

Corp. William H. Pratt, wounded at Olustee, 
and killed at Chesterfield Heights. 

Corp. Nicholas Shults, wounded at Petersburg. 

Corp. George Smith, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Adolphus H. Tipple, accidentally wounded 
at Chicago, and wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Musician Alvagene Ackett, killed at Fort Fisher. 

Robert Baker, captured at Deep Bottom. 

George H. Bellows, mortally wounded at Olustee. 

George "W. Blowers, wounded at Olustee. 

Michael Byers, killed at Chesterfield Heights. 

David Caier, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 
24 



278 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

James P. Caldwell, wounded at Petersburg. 

Elislia Canson, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Cheston C. Cole, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

Frederick Cromwell, killed at Olustee. 

Charles Dennegar, wounded at Deep Bottom, and 
killed at Fort Fisher. 

Charles De Van, killed at Deep Bottom. 

Nathan Farrell, wounded at Petersburg. 

John Faus, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

James Gardner, mortally wounded at Olustee. 

Henry Haiser, mortally wounded at Petersburg. 

George Hart, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Thomas J. Henry, wounded at Olustee, and 
captured at Deep Bottom. 

John Hogan, wounded at Olustee, and killed at 
Petersburg. 

Patrick Joyce, wounded at Petersburg. 

John Kaiser, killed at Fort Gilmer. 

Ambrose W. Kirkham, wounded and captured 
at Olustee. 

Joseph Lancaster, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Deep Bottom. 

John Lasher, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Whitney A. Lee, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Alexander Lenegar, wounded at Petersburg. 

John A. Lenegar, killed at Olustee. 

Peter Lenagar, killed at Fort Fisher. 

Solomon Lenegar, wounded at Bermuda Hun 
dreds. 

Samuel H. Lusk, wounded at Olustee. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 279 

John McDowel, killed at Olustee. 

John Morsuce, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Henry O Mel, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Drury s Bluff. 

Batty Quilty, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Niles Reynolds, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

William Reynolds, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

John Robinson, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 

Frederick Seller, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

Joseph Shannon, wounded at Maryland Heights. 

John Sherlock, captured at Deep Bottom. 

Conrad Smith, mortally wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Martin Timmins, wounded and captured at 
Deep Bottom. 

William Van Allstyne, wounded at Olustee. 

John J. Van Brocklin, mortally wounded at 
Harper s Ferry. 

Lafayette Waterman, wounded at Olustee, and 
captured at Deep Bottom. 

David Worry, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Company B. 

Capt. John P. Kneeskern, hit at Olustee, and 
wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Capt. Isaac C. Smith, wounded at Olustee. 

First Lt. John Van Desande, mortally wounded 
at Deep Bottom. 

First Sergt. John Rearden, wounded at Chester 
field Heights. 



280 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Sergt. Orin H. Brown, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Sergt. Daniel K. Peacock, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. William Alger, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. Seeley Conover, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. James Green, severely wounded and re 
ported dead. 

Corp. Lucas "W. Mount, wounded and captured 
at Chesterfield Heights. 

Corp. James Sneck, wounded at Deep Bottom, 
and at Olustee. 

Act. Hosp. Steward Jadua Countryman, killed 
at Fort Fisher. 

"William Alpaugh, wounded at Olustee. 

John Becker, wounded at Petersburgh. 

James Bellis, wounded at Olustee. 

Jacob B. Brown, wounded at Olustee. 

Jacob B. Brown, killed at Petersburgh. 

James Brown, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

N. Cook, wounded at Olustee. 

John Daley, wounded at Olustee. 

Livingston Derrick, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Abram Failing, wounded at Deep Bottom, and at 
Olustee. 

William E. Flint, killed at Olustee. 

W. H. Flint, wounded at Darbytown Road. 

Daniel Gilday, killed at Olustee. 

Henry Goodrich, killed at Coal Harbor. 

L. A. Goodrich, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

George Hickey, wounded at Coal Harbor. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 281 

William Hompkey, wounded at Deep Bottom, 
and at Fort Fisher. 

Henry Hose, wounded at Olustee. 

George Hoyt, wounded at Olustee. 

"W. Hubbs, wounded at Olustee. 

A. Kohler, wounded at Darbytown Road. 

William Lake, wounded at Olustee. 

Charles G. Lappie, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

John P. Lintner, mortally wounded at Peters 
burg. 

Richard Maxfield, wounded at Olustee. 

August Meyers, wounded and captured at Olus 
tee. 

John Miller, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

John F. Moyer, wounded at Olustee. 

Frank Niederlander, killed at Olustee. 

N". Rabis, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

Nicholas Rupert, killed at Deep Bottom. 

Alonzo Smith, killed at Olustee. 

George Smith, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Lucius A. Smith, wounded and captured at Olus 
tee. 

Orian Snell, captured at Deep Bottom, and 
wounded at Olustee. 

Daniel Starring, wounded at Olustee. 

D. C. Tompkins, reported killed at Olustee. 

Fisher F. Van Epps, captured at Deep Bottom. 

Reuben Walrath, mortally wounded at Darbytown 
Road. 

James Weast, wounded at Olustee and Darby- 
town Road. 



282 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

George "Weaver, wounded at Chesterfield Heights. 
William Welch, wounded at Olustee. 
Daniel Whitney, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 
John Williams, wounded at Chesterfield Heights. 
Nathan Zeigel, wounded at Olustee. 

Company C. 

Capt. William H. McKittrick, killed at Fort Gil- 
mer. 

First Lieut. George H. Curren, wounded at Olus 
tee. 

Second Lieut. William Tompkins, killed at Olus 
tee. 

First Sergt Charles S. Fisher, killed at Fort Gil- 
mer. 

Sergt. William I. Jennings, wounded at Darby- 
town Road. 

Corp. Alonzo Allen, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. J. W. Clark, jr., wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Sidney T. Cornell, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. Robert Fox, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. J. M. Herrick, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Mason, wounded at Olustee. 

Philip Alback, captured at Olustee, attempted to 
escape from rebel prisons three times, was twice 
captured by dogs, and wounded, but the third time 
succeeded in reaching our lines. 

William Backman, killed at Fort Fisher. 
Charles N. Baker, wounded at Olustee. 
Wesson Benson, killed at Olustee. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 283 

Lewis Bertrand, wounded at Coal Harbor, and 
killed at Fort Gilmer. 

John H. Briggs, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Milo E. Burbee, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Peter Butler, killed at Olustee. 

Philip S. Christy, wounded and captured at Olus 
tee. 

Henry Chute, killed at Fort Fisher. 

Mark Cochran, wounded at Olustee, and at Coal 
Harbor. 

George "W. Coloney, Jr., captured at Deep Bottom. 

Jeremiah Coy, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Charles D. Cozzens, wounded at Olustee, and 
captured at Drury s Bluff. 

Almonts D. Crater, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

Maurice I. Drynan, killed at Darbytown Road. 

John Duckett, wounded at Olustee. 

Albert Dunning, killed at Petersburg. 

Elam F. Evans, killed at Olustee. 

George M. Evans, missing at Deep Bottom. 

Andrew J. Freeman, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

James A. Hanna, killed at Olustee. 

Smith Harlow, wounded at Petersburg. 

Wendall B. Howe, wounded at Olustee, and 
killed at- Petersburg. 

Charles W. Jenkins, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

David "W. Jones, missing at Deep Bottom. 

Henry F. Jones, wounded at Olustee. 

Lewis Jones, wounded at Olustee. 



284 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Christopher F. Keenholts, mortally wounded at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

Sidney D. Lincoln, mortally wounded at Olustee. 

Levi Myers, wounded at Olustee. 

Edwin Rhodes, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

William Smith, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Charles Spiegal, wounded at Olustee. 

Dennis Springer, killed at Fort Gilmer. 

George Van Steeubergh, killed at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

George Sullivan, missing at Deep Bottom. 

James A. Wager, mortally wounded at Chester 
field Heights. 

Waldo Young, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Company D. 

First Lieut. IS". De Graff, slightly wounded at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

First Lieut. Charles Kline, wounded at Fort Gil 
mer, and hit at Deep Bottom. 

First Lieut. Thomas Wayne, hit at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Sergt. Frank M. Conover, killed at Deep Bottom. 

Sergt. Schuyler Gordon, wounded at Deep Bot 
tom. 

Sergt. Levi Lingenfelter, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. A. J. Casler, missing at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Nicholas H. Eaton, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. James Fredendall, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Corp. Daniel Grant, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 285 

Corp. William H. Kelly, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. George Kline, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Deep Bottom. 

Musician James A. Tripp, missing at Deep Bot 
tom. 

1ST. Banco, wounded at Olustee. 

Roderick F. Barlow, killed at Olustee. 

Myron L. Bemis, mortally wounded at Fort Gil- 
mer. 

David II. Brewer, wounded and missing at Deep 
Bottom. 

N. Clark, wounded at Olustee. 

William Colgrove, captured at Deep Bottom. 

James McCollum, killed at Deep Bottom. 

J. S. Countryman, wounded at Olustee. 

Frank Crow, captured at Drury s Bluff. 

James English, wounded at Charleston, the Wil 
derness, and at the Weldon Railroad. 

Peter A. Folmsbee, killed at Olustee. 

J. Gillins, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

William E. Glover, wounded at Olustee, and mor 
tally wounded at Petersburg. 

W. Harvey, wounded at Olustee. 

Theodore Kehner, missing at Deep Bottom. 

Thomas Lepper, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Mc^ally, wounded at Olustee. 

Frank Mallery, missing at Deep Bottom. 

Frank Moulter, missing at Deep Bottom. 

N. Newman, wounded at Olustee. 

William H. Nutt, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

C. Ormnd, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

B. Owens, wounded at Olustee. 



286 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Martin Simmons, missing at Deep Bottom. 

John II. Simpson, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 

Edward Smith, reported killed at Olustee. 

William Thayer, wounded and captured at Olus 
tee. 

Daniel Tullock, wounded at Olustee. 

John Turner, wounded at Olustee. 

James W. Tempi er, wounded at Coal Harber. 

Eobert Welch, wounded at Olustee. 

N". Wood, wounded at Olustee. 

Company E. 

Capt. William H. Shaw, wounded at Coal Har 
bor, and at Fort Fisher. 

First Sergt. Geo. M. Van Rensselaer, wounded 
at Olustee, and at Deep bottom. 

Color Sergt. Peter J. Keck, wounded at Olustee, 
at Chesterfield Heights, at Deep Bottom, and at 
Fort Fisher. 

Sergt. W. Shaver, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

Sergt. M. Van Steenburgh, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. C. Dibble, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. C. V. Hall, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Fort Fisher. 

Corp. G. B. Harrison, captured at Fort Fisher. 

Corp. Eli D. M. Lee, wounded and captured at 
Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Stewart Putman, wounded at Olustee, and 
at Petersburg. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 287 

Corp. "W. H. Scorsby, wounded at Olustee, and 
at Deep Bottom. 

Musician J. H. Getman, wounded at Fort Fisher. 
Musician James Hale, captured at Deep Bottom t 
"Wagoner Wing A. White, wounded at Olustee. 
Alfred Allen, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 
J. Argersinger, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

F. H. Barker, wounded at Olustee. 

H. G. I. Billington, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

J. Bowman, killed at Olustee. 

Eli Brooks, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

George W. Buel, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

G. Burns, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

A. C. Canfield, wounded at Drury s Bluff, and at 
Olustee. 

Samuel demons, mortally wounded at Drury s 
Bluff. 

J. Covel, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

S. Craig, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Dooley, wounded at Olustee. 

D. B. Doxtater, mortally wounded at Olustee. 

Philander Doxtater, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

C. Dyre, wounded at Olustee. 

Harris Slashurg, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

J. Getman, wounded at Darbytown Road. 

A. Hanner, wounded at Petersburg. 

P. Herman, wounded at Olustee. 

H. Hollands, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

James R. Jacobey, wounded at Deep Bottom, at 
Fort Fisher, and at Harper s Ferry. 

Aaron Johnson, wounded at Olustee. 



288 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

S. A. Johnson, mortally wounded at Coal Har 
bor. 

San nders Johnson, wounded and missing at Deep 
Bottom. 

Andrew Keck, wounded at Harper s Ferry. 

George Kinnicutt, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Phillip Kinnicutt, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

Joshua Lake, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

A. McLaughlan, wounded at Olustee. 

Simon P. Little, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Darbytown Road. 

Moses Loucks, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

Cornelius McAlister, wounded at Deep Bottom, 
and at Olustee. 

S. Miller, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Montiney, wounded at Olustee. 

William Montiney, killed at Darbytown Road. 

L. Phillips, wounded at Olustee, and at Fort Gil 
mer. 

A. Rathmyer, killed at Olustee. 

Charles Rhodes, wounded and prisoner. 

Charles Sauer, wounded twice at Deep Bottom. 

Sanford Shaw, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

John A. Smith, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

J. IS". Taylor, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Van Auken, wounded at Olustee. 

J. T. W. Ward, wounded at Olustee. 

John W. Ward, wounded at Petersburg. 

James Welch, killed at Olustee. 

J. G. Young, wounded at Olustee. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 289 

Company F. 

Capt. W&lt; W. French, wounded at Olustee. 

First Lieut. Stephen S. Olney, killed at Fort 
Fisher. 

First Sergt. Lewis L. Bailey, wounded at Olustee. 

Sergt. H. F. Adams, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

Sergt. Nathan M. Ide, killed at Darbytown Koad. 

Corp. W. D. Barnes, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. E. A. Steere, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. Demis "Welch, wounded and missing at 
Olustee. 

Corp. George H. Wildey, wounded at Petersburg. 

Thomas II. Adcock, wounded and missing at 
Olustee. 

Henry Baner, wounded and missing at Olustee, 

Hugh Bennett, wounded at Olustee. 

George Brougham, wounded at Olustee. 

George C. Brown, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

Lewis A. Burdick, wounded at Olustee. 

John Burnham, wounded at Olustee. 

Henry C. Campbell, wounded at Coal Harbor, 
and mortally wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Noah B. Clark, wounded at Olustee. 

"William H. Clark, wounded at Olustee.. 

H. E. Collins, killed at Olustee. 

John II. Crook, wounded at Deep Bottom, and 
at Olustee. 

John Donahoe, wounded at "Olustee. 

Daniel Frasier, wounded arid missing at Olustee 

Elijah Garner, wounded at Olustee.. 
25 



290 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

John Gracey, wounded at Olustee. 

James Grey, wounded at Olustee. 

Edgar Hane, wounded and missing at Chester- 
Held Heights. 

John Hardy, wounded at Olustee. 

John Hurley, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

Peter D. Jeandrean, killed at Olustee. 

Hugh Kennedy, wounded at Olustee. 

Fred Kirm, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

William Lee, wounded at Olustee. 

James Lingham, wounded at Olustee. 

H. J. Loof, wounded and missing at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Andy McGuire, wounded at Olustee. 

Levi Manning, wounded at Chesterfield Heights. 

William Mayhar, wounded at Olustee. 

Henry W. Mallery, missing at Deep Bottom. 

John Merrit, wounded at Olustee. 

Handford Myers, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Petersburg. 

William E. Newton, killed at Fort Fisher. 

A. H. Oshorn, wounded at Darbytown Road. 

John S. Osborn, wounded at Olustee. 

J. S. Osborn, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Charles L. Parker, mortally wounded at Peters 
burg. 

Isaac Richardson, wounded at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

J. Simpson, wounded at Olustee. 

Michael Smee, wounded at Olustee. 

Joshua Stead, wounded and missing at Olustee. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 291 

Norval Stewart, wounded at Olustee, and killed 
at Petersburg. 

Charles Taylor, wounded and missing at Olustee. 
John R. Yalantine, wounded at Olustee. 
Lloyd Weston, wounded and missing at Olustee. 
Myron H. Wilcox, wounded at Olustee. 
Bruce Winney, wounded at Petersburg. 
John C. Winney, wounded at Olustee. 
Jesse Wood, missing at Deep Bottom. 
M. B. Wood, wounded at Olustee. 

Company G. 

Capt. S. B. Savage, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

First Lieut. David H. Graves, wounded at Olus 
tee, and at Petersburg. 

Second Lieut. Levi Sheffer, killed at Olustee. 

First Sergt. Selden C. Clobridge, wounded at 
Olustee, and at Fort Gilmer. 

First Sergt. L. M. Loper, wounded at Olustee, 
and at Fort Gilmer. 

Sergt. Charles Brice, killed at Chesterfield 
Heights. 

Sergt. Patrick Collopy, killed at Olustee. 

Sergt. George B. Lyon, wounded at Olustee. 

Sergt W. T. Saulsbery, wounded at Fort Fisher, 
and at Fort Gilmer. 

Corp. Amasa Bartlet, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. S. T. Densmore, wounded and missing at 
Olustee. 

Corp. John W. Dubois, killed at Petersburg. 

Corp. Morgan L. Purdy, wounded at Olustee. 

Charles Bemis, wounded at Olustee. 



292 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

William H. Blackwood, wounded and missing at 
Olustee. 

"N. B. Bryant, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Caftery, wounded at Olustee. 

M. Castillo, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

L. C. Church, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Curver, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

Stephen Decker, captured. 

Martin De Lacatend, killed at Fort Fisher. 

Michael Fethers, killed at Olustee. 

Thomas H. Hare, killed at Deep Bottom. 

John II. Houghton, killed at Proctor s Creek. 

Jeptha Johnson, wounded at Olustee. 

John Korher, killed at Olustee. 

A. 0. Lee, wounded at Olustee. 

James Levmiss, killed at Chesterfield Heights. 

G. Losch, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Lorenzo Mallery, killed at Fort Fisher. 

M. Malomly, wounded at Olustee. 

A. N". Price, wounded at Olustee. 

H. Ragaden, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

J. Reece, wounded at Olustee. 

S. Scott, wounded at Olustee. 

John Shaft, wounded at Olustee. 

J. C. Smith, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

John II. Snook, wounded at Chesterfield Heights. 

J. Turner, wounded. 

William II. Wiley, wounded and missing. 

Hiram Woodcock, wounded and missing. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 293 

Company H. 

Capt. S. P. Smith, hit at Olustee, at Petersburg, 
and wounded in arm, foot, leg and cheek at Deep 
Bottom. 

1st Lieut. James H. Clark, wounded at Olustee. 

2d Lieut. John W. Filkins, wounded at Peters 
burg. 

Sergt-major E. R. Fonda, mortally wounded at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

1st Sergt. George T. Hoag, wounded at Fort 
Fisher. 

Color Sergt. Charles B. Fellows, wounded and 
captured at Fort Gilmer. 

Sergt. Wesley Hayner, wounded at Olustee. 

Sergt. George T. Van Husen, wounded at Olustee, 
and at Petersburg. 

Sergt. John R. Watt, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Corp. Peter Butler, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

Corp. James H. Gettings, wounded and captured 
at Olustee. 

Corp. James K. P. Himes, wounded. at Olustee, 
killed at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Charles H. Mulliken, killed at Olustee. 

Corp. Abbott C. Musgrove, killed at Deep Bot 
tom. 

Corp. Orlando Swartwout, wounded at Olustee, 
and at Deep Bottom. 

Oscar L. Ackley, killed at Olustee. 

George Alexander, killed at Darbytown Road. 

John Anderson, wounded at Petersburg, and in 
hand and leg at Fort Gilmer. 



294 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Charles Berry, killed at Coal Harbor. 

Sidney Bordell, wounded at Petersburg. 

John McBride, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

William Brunswick, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Drury s Bluff. 

Francis Campbell, wounded at Olustee. 

George Carr, wounded at Olustee. 

George D. Cole, wounded through the body, both 
legs and thighs, and captured at Olustee. 

Thomas Connelly, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 

John Cudney, wounded at Olustee. 

Charles H. De Graff, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 

Henry B. Dummer, wounded at Olustee. 

Ambrose Fowler, wounded in shoulder and leg 
at Deep Bottom. 

Losee Filkins, wounded at Olustee. 

Richard Francis, killed at Olustee. 

Henry Hessel, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

George A. Houghtaling, wounded at Olustee, 
and captured at Deep Bottom. 

Isaac Y. Irish, lost an eye. 

Philip Link, killed at Olustee. 

Alfred Phenix, hit five times at Olustee. 

Thomas Phillips, wounded at Olustee. 

Peter Rinehart, wounded at Olustee, and killed 
at Fort Fisher. 

Henry Sampson, wounded at Olustee. 

Daniel Secore, wounded at Olustee. 

William Smith, killed at Olustee. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 295 

William H. Shonts, wounded at Olustee, and at 
Drury s Bluff. 

Andrew Stewart, mortally wounded and captured 
at Olustee. 

Almon E. Stone, wounded at Petersburg, and at 
Fort Fisher. 

Ezra T. Stone, wounded at Olustee. 

Charles Streil, wounded at Petersburg, and at 
Deep Bottom. 

"William Taylor, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Benjamin Thackarah, wounded at Petersburg, 
and 27 pieces of bone came out of his leg. 

Joseph IS". Tuper, wounded at Drury s Bluff. 

George Vandercook, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

James Wilson, killed at Olustee. 

Horace Wing, wounded at Olustee. 

Company I. 

Captain David Kettle, hit at Olustee, and 
wounded at Chesterfield Heights. 

Sergt.-major H. W. Heaton, wounded at Fort 
Fisher. 

Acting Sergt.-major William H. Kane, mortally 
wounded at Deep Bottom. 

First Sergt. Beekman R. Near, wounded at Fort 
Fisher. 

Sergt. Joel S. Alexander, killed at Olustee. 

Sergt. A. Price, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. O. Alexander, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. N. Currer, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. John W. Dake, wounded through both 
hands at Olustee. 



296 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Corp. John L. Fort, killed at Fort Gilmer. 

Corp. Andrew J. Peckham, mortally wounded at 
Coal Harbor. 

Corp. Fred W. Putser, wounded at Olustee, and 
captured at Deep Bottom. 

Corp. Thomas Stairs, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

William H. Alexander, wounded at Fort Gilmer. 

Henry Billington, mortally wounded at Deep 
Bottom. 

R. Crandell, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Ezra Coleman, mortally wounded at Darbytown 
Road. 

James H. Core, killed at Petersburg. 

"N. Disbrow, wounded at Olustee. 

Simeon Faulkner, wounded at Chapin s Farm. 

Morgan M. Flint, killed at Drury s Blufi . 

H. Johnson, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

R. B. Kelly, wounded at Olustee. 

Samuel King, wounded at Olustee. 

Barney McGuire, missing at Deep Bottom. 

B. McGuire, wounded at Olustee. 

Sylvanus Moyer, killed at Chesterfield Heights. 

George Maxon, wounded and captured at Ches 
terfield Heights. 

Daniel Peeler, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

Hiram Perkins, wounded and captured at Olus 
tee. 

A. Price, wounded at Olustee. 

J. Reese, wounded and missing at Olustee. 

Peter N. Rightmeyer, wounded and captured at 
Fort Gilmer. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 297 

Richard Shannon, wounded at Olustee. 

C. W. Sharif, wounded at Olustee. 

E. C. Slocura, wounded at Olustee. 

JN". Smith, wounded at Olustee. 

Alfred G. Snyder, killed at Petersburg. 

Clark Southwick, mortally wounded in leg at 
Olustee. 

i John G. Steenburrer, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 

Patrick Sullivan, killed at Petersburg. 

Isaac Thorpe, wounded at Fort Fisher. 

J. Wager, wounded and captured at Olustee. 

"Wilbur Wager, captured. 

Theodore Whitford, wounded at Olustee. 

Frank Willmaster, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

Company K. 

[This company had between 50 and 60 men killed and wounded.] 

Capt. William Smith, wounded at Maryland 
Heights, and hit at Olustee. 

First Lieut. Francis II. Francisco, killed at Deep 
Bottom. 

First Sergt. Charles H. Bradt, killed at Olustee. 

Sergt. E. Conlen, wounded at Olustee. 

Sergt. John R. Clark, wounded and captured at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

Edward Cowles, killed at Coal Harbor. 

Corp. Lorenzo E. Bradt, wounded at Olustee. 

Corp. James 0. Fox, wounded and captured at 
Chesterfield Heights. 

Corp. Alexander Ronald, mortally wounded at 
Petersburg. 



298 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

George H. Ackley, captured at Pilatka, Fla. 

Jacob M. Arnstead, killed at Deep Bottom. 

W. Bailey, wounded at Olustee. 

A. B. Barrett, wounded at Deep Bottom. 

J. Cole, wounded at Olustee. 

D. Faling, wounded at Olustee. 

Duello Groff, wounded and captured at Deep 
Bottom. 

J. Hunter, wounded at Olustee. 

C. M. Johnson, wounded at Olustee. 

S. J. Juper, wounded at Olustee. 

P. E. Kenbrock, wounded at Olustee. 

Charles Lamb, mortally wounded at Fort Fisher. 

Frank Lamb, wounded and captured at Deep 
Bottom. 

Norman TV. Lyford, mortally wounded. 

"W. II. Peck, wounded at Olustee. 

!N". Pedrick, wounded at Olustee. 

Levi Petit, killed at Olustee. 

R. A. Sharp, wounded at Olustee. 

A. J. Spencer, wounded at Olustee. 

Obediah Sprung, mortally wounded at Chester 
field Heights. 

George Sullivan, wounded and^captured at Deep 
Bottom. 

Joseph Van Derpool, wounded and captured at 
Olustee. 

John Wadsworth, wounded at Olustee. 
J..1L Williams, wounded at Olustee. 
Joseph Wister, mortally wounded. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 299 

M. A. Xorn, wounded at Olustee. 
"W. S. Young, wounded at Olustee. 

Additional Casualties in the Regiment as reported by the 
Press. 

WOUNDED AT FORT GILMER. 

E. S. Bell, I. Cross, G. A. Gardneer, J. Hallyson, 
C. Humpford, J. Lynn, P. O Leary, G. Eow, C. 
Sapiegle, H. C. Wheeler. 

WOUNDED AT FORT FISHER. 

Sergt. C. L. Clark, Sergt. P. I. Eich, Sergt. W. 
Shaw, Sergt. J. A. Swain, Corp. W. H. Conby, 
Corp. G. B. Harrison, Corp. T. L. Stone, W. Bich- 
man, J. B. Brooks, L. Buckley, J. Cook, N". Cook, 
J. Gardineer, J. Gillman, J. Oracle, A. Hillibrandt, 
W. Humphrey, E. Knight, C. Lamb, 0. Laroun, 
F. Lines, W. Little, J. Mcliarg, C. B. Morrison, 
Hiram Ehodes, B. Saldfire (missing), J. Savoy, A. 
Smith, C. Smith, W. Smith, C. K. Such, P. Van 
Loon, S. A. Williams, A. S. Wood, J. E. Wood, 
W. Young. 

THE COMPANIES. 

Company A was formed at Fonda, Montgomery 
Co., and was recruited principally from the towns 
of Mohawk, Glen, and Palatine. It had four offi 
cers during its term of service. 

Company B was recruited principally from the 
towns of Minden, St. Johnsville and Canajoharie, 
in Montgomery Co., and contained less than half a 
dozen married men. 



300 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Company C was recruited in Ballston and tlie 
surrounding towns in Saratoga Co. It was the first 
color company of the regiment. It had two officers 
and many men killed. 

Company D was raised principally in the towns 
of Amsterdam, Florida and Charleston, Montgomery 
Co. Total number of men died, discharged, and 
deserted, 56. Mustered out with company, 34. 

Company E was a county organization, being 
raised in Fulton Co. Many of its men together 
with its captain had served in the Northern Black 
Horse Cavalry. 

Company F was formed at Saratoga Springs, and 
was mainly recruited from the northern part of 
Saratoga Co., although some of its members hailed 
from Warren county. 

Company (1 was formed at Saratoga Springs, and 
was recruited from Saratoga Springs and the sur 
rounding towns. 

Company II was recruited from the towns of Half 
Moon, Clifton Park, Stillwater and Waterford, 
Saratoga Co., and the village of Cohoes, Albany Co. 

It had 160 men on its rolls during its term of 
service. 

Company I was formed at Fonda, of men from 
all parts of the 18th congressional district. It had 
five officers during the three years. 

Company K was a county organization, being 
recruited from Fulton county chiefly, although some 
of its members were from Hamilton. Total num 
ber of men, 152. Died, discharged, and deserted, 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 301 

60. Mustered out, 44. Transferred and enlisted in 
navy, 48. Number of wounded, nearly 60. 

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF, &C. 

E. S. Hay wood, 1st Sergeant major; E. R. Fon 
da, 2d Sergeant major ; H. W. Heaton, 3d Ser 
geant major; Washington Vosburg, Quartermaster 
sergeant ; Robert Stewart, Ordnance sergeant ; 
John H. Wendell, Hospital steward ; Reuben 
Parkhurst, Hospital steward ; Joab Harlow, Com 
missary sergeant. 

115TH BRASS BAND. 

J. W. Ripley, Leader; B. R. Near, F. S. Mar 
tin, C. W. Trumble, J. R. Watt, Marius Powell, 
John Staples, W. H. Gorham, E. W. Drake, A. 
Helderbrant, C. Olmstead, Fred. Myer, Henry 
Clark, Jesse Wood, J. L. Moshier. 

DRUM CORPS. 

M. W. Cole, Drum Major; J. W. Ripley, Fife 
Major; A. Ackett, R. Blowers, J. M. Dean, Jr., D. 
R. Hicks, M. Powell, J. L. Moshier, George Trum 
ble, D. H. Chittenden, John Hutchinson, C. Sny- 
der, F. Snyder, J. A. Tripp, John Hale, B. Benson, 
James Getman, J. C. Winne, Jesse Wood, D. 
Paul, Charles Trumble, G. E. Brockway, Henry 
Clark, S. Butler, Philip Shaffer, T. W. Lovelaiid, 

S. Hurd. 

26 



CHAPTER XII. 

ARRIVAL OP THE 115TH IN NEW YORK. 

[From the N. Y. Times.] 

The returning Veterans Arrival and Departure of the One Hun 
dred and Fifteenth New York Interesting History. 

The One Hundred and Fifteenth New York, 
numbering 180 men and 14 officers, and under the 
command of Lieut. Col. N. J. Johnson, arrived 
yesterday from City Point, per government trans 
port North Point, landing at pier No. 12, North 
river. Marching up Broadway to the New York 
State Agency, through the pouring rain, the regi 
ment was received with some little applause, the 
dampness, however, lessening the enthusiasm some 
what. Col. Colyer and his assistants provided 
dinner for the command, at the Eighth Regiment 
arsenal, over Centre market. 

The One Hundred and Fifteenth was serving, at 
the time of its leaving Raleigh, Ga., for home, in 
the Third Brigade, Second Division, Tenth Army 
Corps, but has been identified with the Eighteenth 
and Twenty-fourth Corps. During its term of ser 
vice, 8 officers were killed and 14 wounded. The 
regiment was raised in the counties of Fulton, 
Saratoga, Hamilton and Montgomery, rendezvous 
ing at Fonda, Aug. 26th, 1862. During their three 
years service the One Hundred and Fifteenth have 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 303 

had 1,493 names upon their rolls, and left behind 
them at Raleigh, 301 recruits. The following 
comprises the officers names accompanying the 
regiment home : 

Field and Staff Lieut, Col. 1ST. J. Johnson, Maj, 
E. L. Walrath, Surgeon C. McFarland, Acting 
Adjt. IS". DeGrath, Quartermaster Martin McMartin. 

Line Officers Co. A, Capt. C. Ballou; Co. B, 
Capt. J. P. Kneeskern, First Lieut. A. Collier; Co. 
C, Capt. F. S. Mosher; Co. D, Second Lieut. Chas. 
Kline ; Co. E, Capt. W. H. Shaw, First Lieut. A. 
C. Slocum, Second Lieut. C. L. Clark ; Co. I, Sec 
ond Lieut. W. Mclntosh ; Co. K, Capt. William 
Smith. 

The One Hundred and Fifteenth New York have 
participated in the following hattles: Maryland 
Heights, Sept. 13, 1862; Bolivar Heights, Va., 
Sept. 15, 1862 ; Chesterfield Heights, Va., May 7, 
1864; Olustee, Fla., Feb. 20, 1864; Weir Bottom 
Church, Va., May 12, 1864; Drury s Bluff, Va., 
May 14, 1864; Proctor s Farm, Va., May 16, 1864; 
Coal Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864; Siege of Peters 
burg ; Cemetery Hill ("the Crater"), July 30, 1864; 
Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864; Fort Gilmer, 
Sept. 29, 1864 ; Darbytown Road, Va., Oct. 27, 
1864; Fort Fisher (Wilmington K C.,) Jan. 15, 
1865; Wilmington Advance, Feb. 22, 1865; Ad 
vance on Sugar Loaf Batteries, Feb. 20, 1865 ; 
attack upon Fort Anderson, Feb. 19, 1865 ; forced 
march to Northeast river, and capture of pontoon 
bridge. 



304 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Col. Bell, commanding the brigade, was killed 
in the fierce attack upon Fort Fisher (under Gen. 
Terry), and Lieut. Col. Johnson assumed the com 
mand, entering the fort and thus gaining the 
distinguished honor of being the first brigade com 
mander to enter that fort. The regiment marched 
up the Neuse river to join Sherman, making the 
connection from the 14th to the 20th April, 1865. 
They departed by special steamer yesterday after 
noon for Albany. 

ARRIVAL OF THE 115TH IN ALBANY. 

[From the Albany Evening Journal], 

The One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, N". 
Y. S. V., arrived here about five o clock this morn 
ing on board the Thomas Way, and was received 
with the usual salute, and properly cared for by the 
citizens committee, at the various hotels. The 
boys look remarkably well, their uniforms are in 
the best condition, and everything betokens that 
the best care has been taken to present a fine sol 
dierly appearance. The regiment was mustered in 
at Fonda, August 26, 1862, 1,000 strong, and re 
turns with 280. There has been added to it about 
500 recruits, and 301 have been left in the field. 

The veterans have clone gallant service at Mary 
land Heights, Md., Bolivar Heights, Ya., Ohistee, 
Fla., Chester Heights, Va., Drury s Bluff, Proctor s 
Creek, Weir Bottom Church, Coal Harbor, Siege 
of Petersburg, Cemetery Hill, Deep Bottom, Straw 
berry Plain, Chapin s Farm, Fort Gilrner, Darby- 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 305 

town Road, Fort Fisher, both expeditions (it lost 
heavily at the explosion), and Wilmington. It bears 
on its flag the names of most of these engagements, 
in which it has especially distinguished itself, and 
on the fields of which it has left many a gallant hero. 

The following officers returned with the regiment : 

Lieutenant- Colonel 1ST. J. Johnson; was trans 
ferred from the Ninety-Third. 

Major E. L. Walrath ; went out as captain. 

Surgeon C. McFarland; transferred from Eighty- 
first. 

Quartermaster Martin McMartin ; went out in 
same capacity. 

Acting Adjutant First Lieutenant N". DeGraff; 
went out as orderly sergeant. 

Company A Captain C. ~N. Ballon ; went out 
as orderly sergeant. 

Company B Captain J. B. Kneeskern ; went 
out as captain. Lieutenant J. A. Collier ; went 
out as first corporal. 

Company C Captain Fred. S. Mosher; went 
out as first lieutenant. 

Company D Lieutenant Charles Kline; went 
out as third sergeant. 

Company E Captain "William II. Shaw; went 
out as captain. First Lieutenant A. C. Slocum ; 
went out as second lieutenant. Second Lieutenant 
C. L. Clark ; went out as sergeant. 

Companies F, G and H have no officers. 

Company I Lieutenant W. Mclntosh ; went 
out as private. 



306 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

Company K Captain William Smith ; went out 
as captain. 

The regiment will remain at the barracks on the 
Troy road until paid off. 

[From the Schenectady Daily Evening Star.] 

The 115th (Montgomery) Regiment is expected 
to reach Albany to-day. It left Fonda a little more 
than three years ago, being a full regiment, and 
comes back with only four hundred and thirty men. 
Of that number, we venture to say, there are not 
one hundred of the original members. Their first 
experience was at Harper s Ferry, which place they 
reached (four days after leaving home) just in time 
to take part in the fight which resulted in the loss 
of the place, they among others, being taken pri 
soners. From there they were sent to Chicago, 
under rebel parole, where they remained some 
months awaiting the proper exchange. While 
there, with other regiments, a portion of the bar 
racks were burned, and this regiment was wrong 
fully charged with the deed. They were immedi 
ately sent, under sealed orders, to Hilton Head, 
where they remained several months as prisoners. 
The representations of their colonel, Simeon Sam- 
mons, obtained their release, and they immediately 
entered again upon active service, since which time 
they have made their mark as among the bravest 
of our brave soldiers. We have not a record of the 
battles they have been in ; they have been in many, 
however, and prominent among them was the very 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 307 

bloody and disastrous one of Olustee, in Florida. 
They should have a warm, whole-souled reception 
on their return home. There were a number of 
Saratoga men in the same regiment. 

RETURN OP THE 115TH N. Y. REGIMENT. 
[From the Waterford Sentinel. ] 

The remnant of this brave regiment was mustered 
out of service on the 17th ult., at Raleigh, N. C., 
and the Waterford boys who survive, returned to 
their homes on Tuesday of last week. Their names 
are John R. Watt, Henry B. Dummer, Ezra T. 
Stone, John Halpin, and Ambrose Fowler. Few 
regiments from this state can present a more hon 
orable record than the 115th, and few have suffered 
more severely in the great contest for the Union. 
The blood of its heroes has been freely shed on 
many a well contested field, and the memory of 
their devotion to the old flag will long continue fra 
grant in the hearts of those who live to enjoy the 
fruits of their patriotism and valor. 

As this regiment is partially a local organization, 
perhaps a glance at its history may not be uninter 
esting. As is well known, it was recruited under 
the second call of the president for 300,000 three 
years men, in the 18th senatorial district, comprised 
of Saratoga, Montgomery and Fulton counties. It 
was mustered into service at Fonda, !N". Y., on the 
26th of August, 1862, and on the 28th left the state 
for the seat of war. The first duty performed by 
it was at Summit Point in the Shenandoah Valley, 



308 THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 

about fifteen miles from Harper s Ferry : but upoii 
Stonewall Jackson s approach in the direction of 
Winchester on the 1st of September, the regiment 
fell back to the Ferry, and a few days after took 
part in the defense of that place against the attack 
of Jackson and Longstreet ; but treason on the part 
of Col. Miles, the commander of the post, turned 
them over to the enemy on the 15th of September 
as prisoners of war, with little or no bloodshed. 
After being paroled, the regiment was sent to Chi 
cago, where it remained until November 20th, when 
being exchanged, they returned to Virginia at 
Arlington Heights, and subsequently encamped at 
Alexandria and Yorktown, Va., and Hilton Head 
and Beaufort, S. C. They remained on garrison 
and guard duty, in the southern department, until 
January 1864, when they joined Seymour s expedi 
tion into Florida, and took a very prominent part 
in the battle of Olustee, on the 20th of February, 
where more than half of the regiment were lost in 
killed and wounded, the colonel being among the 
latter. After this sad affair, the regiment was sta 
tioned at Pilatka, Florida, until the latter part of 
March, when they received orders to embark for 
Virginia to join Butler in his James river enterprise. 
They arrived at Gloucester Point, Va., in April, and 
early in May ascended the James river with Butler 
and participated in the capture of Bermuda Hun 
dreds, and also in the battle of Chesterfield Heights 
on May 7th; Drury s Bluff on the 12th, 13th, 14th, 
15th and 16th of May. 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 309 

In the latterpart of May, the division to which they 
were attached was ordered to join the 18th Corps 
and proceed to Coal Harbor, which they did, arriv 
ing at White House Landing on the Pamunky river 
on the 31st of May, and on the first day of June 
having formed a junction with the army of the Po 
tomac took part in the assault for the capture of the 
defenses around Coal Harbor. The portion of the 
enemy s line in front of the 18th Corps was carried, 
and the 115th had the honor of capturing 280 pri 
soners behind their own works while the regiment 
itself at this time did not number 250 men. The 
regiment remained at this place during the terrible 
twelve days succeeding the 1st of June. When the 
army here commenced its great flank movement 
toward Petersburg, the 115th returned to Bermuda 
Hundreds, and soon after again joined the 18th 
Corps in front of Petersburg, and took an active 
part in the siege of that place and also in the battle 
of July 30, 1864, when the rebel fort was blown up, 
and such terrible slaughter ensued. Here its col 
onel was again wounded. After the battle, the 
regiment returned to the 10th Corps just in time to 
take part in the battle of Deep Bottom on the 16th 
and 18th of August. This movement was intended 
only as a feint to cover the movements of the 5th 
Corps on the Weldon rail road, but by some blunder 
a disastrous battle was brought on, and the 115th 
was again reduced by over 100 men. After this 
they again made a short visit to the lines around 
Petersburg, and about the 28th of September re- 



310 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

turned to the north side of the James river and were 
engaged in the battles of Chapin s Farm on the 29th 
of September and the 7th of October, and Darby- 
town Road on the 27th of October. 

The regiment then went into camp about six miles 
from Richmond, where it remained until the famous 
Butler expedition to Fort Fisher was started, which 
it accompanied, and also the subsequent one under 
Gen. Terr}-, and took part in the capture of that 
stronghold, and suffered terribly by the explosion 
of the magazine after the battle. After this it 
marched to Wilmington, and finally to Raleigh, 
where it arrived just previous to the surrender of 
Johnston, and where it remained until mustered 
out of service. 

The regiment has always conducted itself nobly 
in every battle in which it has been engaged, and 
its history reflects honor upon the counties which 
it represented. 

We gladly welcome home these and other return 
ing heroes who have periled life and health, and 
have borne the hardships consequent upon the life 
of a soldier, for the sake of their country, and may 
they live long to enjoy the benefit of their labor, 
and see a united, prosperous, peaceful and happy 
country as the fruits of their sacrifices. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 



311 



The following is a list of the members of Co. H, 
that went from the town of Waterford and the vil 
lage of Cohoes upon its organization. 
COHOES : 

Alfred Gould, Returned with regiment. 

Augustus W. Bayard, " " " 

Marvin Steenbergh, " " " 

John Yandercook, " " " 

George E. Brockway, 

George Yandercook, 

James Wilson, 

Abbott C. Musgrove, 

Jas. K. P. Himes, 

E. Raymond Fonda, 

Oscar L. Ackley, 

WATERFORD : 
Ambrose Fowler, 
Ezra T. Stone, 
Henry B. Dummer, 
John R. Watt, 
John Halpin, 
Wm. T. Powell, 
Baker Honsinger, 
Duane Shepard, 
Almon E. Stone, 
John Dugan, 
James I. House, 
Lawrence Higgins, 
James Getting, 
John Hogan, 
John Yanorden, 



Discharged, lost an arm. 
Killed at Olustee, Fla. 

" Deep Bottom, Ya. 

&lt;: a tt u 

Died from effects of wound. 
Missing since Feb. 20, 1864. 



Returned with regiment. 



Returned July 4th, from hospital. 

Discharged for disability. 

a n 

" died at home, 

for wound. 

Died at Beaufort, S. C. 
" Chicago, 111. 

u a a 

Died in rebel prison. 
Deserted at Chicago. 



312 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

SWORD PRESENTATION IN CLIFTON PARK. 
[From the Waterford Sentinel. ] 

The following communication was furnished for 
publication early last week, but by one of those ac 
cidents which printers best understand, we were 
compelled to delay its appearance : 

MESSRS. EDITORS : On the return of Lieut. James 
H. Clark, a member of Co. H, 115th Regiment K 
Y. Volunteers, who is now at his father s, in thia 
village, on a furlough, the citizens of the village 
and vicinity resolved on presenting him with a 
sword as a small token of their esteem for him. 
Suitable arrangements being made, they assembled 
at the village on Saturday, the 30th, in the after 
noon. The meeting was organized by the appoint 
ment of Gilbert Clement, president, assisted by 
Shubael Taylor, 0. Yandevoort, and M. Graver, 
vice-presidents, and Thomas Noxon, Esq., secre 
tary. The organization being completed, Rev. R. 
Fox, accompanied by the Rev. S. "W. Clements, 
chaplain of the 115th regiment, came to the stand. 
On the appearance of the chaplain, three cheers 
were called for, and responded to by the audience 
in full tone, upon which the chaplain arose and re 
plied briefly. 

The meeting was then opened by prayer by the 
Rev. R. Fox, after which the president arose and 
addressed the audience, stating the object of the 
meeting, and the high estimation in which this 
vicinity held Lieut. Clark, not only richly earned 
since he went out in defense of his country, but for 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 313 

a long period previous thereto all of which was 
suitable and appropriate for the occasion. The 
duty of presenting the sword to Lieut. Clark was 
assigned to Rev. Mr. Fox, who, in discharge of the 
same, evinced the spirit of patriotism and fidelity 
to the government. Lieut. Clark, on receiving the 
same, made a brief and appropriate reply. Hon. 
J. S. Enos was then called to the stand, who in his 
usual pleasant manner addressed the audience. He 
dwelt at length on the situation of our country at 
the present era, and avoiding the diversity of opinion 
as to the cause, clearly, logically and impressively 
urged the audience to more vigorous efforts to sus 
tain the government, its laws and constitution. 
His remarks were spirited, high-minded and patri 
otic, and were listened to with marked attention, 
and applauded by the audience. Chaplain Clem 
ents, although very feeble as to health, was again 
called out. His remarks were generally relating to 
the 115th. He spoke in high terms of respect of 
the colonel of the regiment, of Capt. S. P. Smith 
of Co. H, his officers and privates, made a strong 
and personal allusion to Lieut. Clark, and closed 
by saying that there was no regiment in service 
that would excel the 115th in point of morals or 

discipline as a volunteer regiment. 

s. w. H. 
Clifton Park, June 2, 1863. 



27 



314 THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 

BATTLE OF PROCTOR S CREEK. 

A New York Herald correspondent gave the fol 
lowing interesting account of the battle of Proctor s 
Creek. 

" A dense fog enveloped the country at the time, 
and both forces were wrapped in a misty veil. 

" This was the condition of affairs, when the rebels, 
massing their troops, struck our right under General 
Heckman, enveloped its flank and took it in re 
verse. The first blow was dealt with terrific force. 
Gen. Heckman s brigade of the Eighteenth Corps, 
holding the right, was doubled up and forced back 
on the next brigade, which was also thrown into 
some confusion. Our men did not observe the 
rebels until they had succeeded in passing a column 
between Heckman s right and the river, and then 
taking him in front and rear, crowded him between 
the columns, and for a time created the greatest 
confusion. Gen. Heckman made a gallant fight as 
long as he could, but the enemy came upon him so 
suddenly and with such overwhelming numbers, 
that successful resistance was quite impossible in 
the darkness and confusion. Some of the brigade 
was captured. After this opposition having 
forced back the right, a heavy attack was made 
on the entire Hue of the Eighteenth Corps, with 
feints along the Tenth Corps line, and the entire 
right was forced back some distance, after several 
hours of most severe and sanguinary struggles. 

" The battle raged with unexampled fury until 
nearly 12 o clock. The rebels threw heavy masses 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 315 

upon our lines, and finally forced it back nearly a 
quarter of a mile. Our men fought stubbornly 
with few exceptions, and resisted every step, and 
repeatedly checked the rebel advance with terrible 
slaughter, but not without some loss to our side. 
The enemy numbered not less than 15,000, and 
pushed into the murderous fire with a recklessness 
and steadiness that are rarely seen. 

" In the attack on our right we lost a gun or two, 
and it is said, some light pieces how many it is 
difficult to ascertain. Probably four will cover the 
loss in light pieces. Finally, after forcing the 
Eighteenth Corps back from its position and re 
gaining a portion of the first line of intrenchments, 
they moved their forces on the Tenth Corps to 
drive it back. They first hurled their columns up 
on Turner s division (ours), which held the right 
of the corps line joining the Eighteenth Corps. 
They formed in a careful manner and moved stead 
ily on Burton s brigade (ours), on the right of 
Turner s division, advancing as if on parade, not 
firing a single shot, and waited until they had 
reached a good distance for effective range. The 
brigade poured into their line such a terrific fire 
that they melted away, and the thinned and broken 
line after vainly endeavoring to advance against 
the storm of bullets, fled with terrible loss to the 
woods in the rear. Their volleys were as contin 
uous and heavy as the musketry of a brigade could 
well be, and such as no living beings could stand 
against. The rebels were scattered like chaff, and 



316 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

broke for the woods in disorganized masses. Under 
their friendly cover, after great exertion, the line 
of attack was again formed, and again a brigade 
advanced in splendid style against our line. Again 
did they receive the terrible fire and pushed steadily 
on until a fourth of them laid killed and wounded 
on the field, when they broke and rushed quickly 
to the cover of the woods. Our boys gave three 
hearty cheers and sent a volley of bullets after the 
rebels which told upon them severely. Being once 
bloodily repulsed at this point, they moved further 
to our left, and hurled a column on Gen. Hawley s 
brigade, of Gen. Terry s division. They came up 
in the same steady and confident manner, but were 
received with a more rapid and equally as deadly a 
fire as that which they were treated to by Turner. 
The Spencer repeating rifles in the hands of the 
Connecticut boys, and the Springfield rifles in the 
hands of the rest of the brigade, delivered a fire so 
hot and withering that the rebels could not stand 
it, but broke and ran for the woods, accelerated in 
their flight by the music of the Spencer bullets 
around them. They were, however, determined 
to break our line and force it from its position, cost 
what it might. They again formed and again 
charged, but after ten minutes hot work, were dis 
astrously repulsed and driven back at all points. 
That ended any serious effort on their part to force 
our position, and they left their dead and wounded 
to the number of two thousand on the field before 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 317 

our line. They again massed on Gen. Smith s 
front and attacked his left. Gen. Gilmore imme 
diately ordered Gen. Turner to attack the enemy 
on their flank, and ordered Gen. Terry to support 
him. 

" Turner s attack had hardly commenced before 
Gen. Gilmore was ordered by Gen. Butler to retire 
and strengthen Gen. Smith s corps by forming in 
his rear. Our troops fell back slowly and in order, 
repulsing every effort of the rebels to quicken their 
movements, and making a stand at every favorable 
position, until the enemy ceased to follow up, and 
fell back to their last line of intrenchments. Gen. 
Gilmore then drew off his corps and formed to 
support Gen Smith." 

CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER. 

"Again our flag is at the mast! 
As proudly as of old ; 
It leaps upon the joyous blast, 
As if within its folds 
A thousand hearts alive and true, 
Were throbbing on its field of blue." 

Official Dispatches. 
FROM SECRETARY STANTON : 

FORTRESS MONROE, Jan. 17 10 p. M. 
To the President : The rebel flag of Fort Fisher 
was delivered to me on board the steamer Spald- 
ing, off that place, yesterday morning, Jan. 16, by 
Major-General Terry. 



318 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

An acknowledgment and thanks for their gallant 
achievement was given in your name to Admiral 
Foster and Gen. Terry, from whom the following 
particulars were obtained : The troops arrived off" 
Fort Fisher Thursday night. Friday they were all 
landed under cover of a heavy fire from the squad 
ron. A reconnoisance was made by Gen. Terry on 
Saturday. A strong defensive line against any of 
the enemy s forces coming from Wilmington was 
established on Saturday, and held by 4,000 men, 
chiefly colored troops, and an assault was deter 
mined on. The assault was made on Sunday after 
noon, at 3J o clock. The sea-front of the fort had 
been greatly damaged and broken by a continuous 
and terrible fire of the fleet for three days, and the 
front was assaulted at the hour mentioned by a 
column of seamen and marines, 1,800 strong, under 
command of Capt. Breese. They reached the para 
pet, but after a short conflict this column was 
checked, driven back in disorder, and was afterward 
placed on the defensive line, taking the place of a 
brigade that was brought up to reinforce the assault 
ing column of troops. Although the assault on the 
sea-front failed, it performed a useful part in divert 
ing the attention of the enemy, and weakening 
their resistance to the attack by the troops on the 
other side. The assault on the other and most dif 
ficult side of the fort was made by a column of 
3,000 troops of the old Tenth Corps, led by Col. 
Curtis, under the immediate supervision of Gen. 
Terry. The enemy s force in the fort was over 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 319 

2,200. The conflict lasted for seven hours. The 
works were so constructed that every traverse af 
forded the enemy a new defensive position from 
whence they had to be driven. They were seven 
in number, aud the fight was carried on from tra 
verse to traverse, for seven hours, by a skillfully 
directed fire thrown into the traverses. One after 
another they were occupied by the enemy. Admiral 
Porter contributed to the success of the assaulting 
column by signals between himself and Gen. Terry 
at brief intervals. This fire was so well managed 
as to damage the enemy without injury to our own 
troops. 

About 10 o clock at night the enemy were entirely 
driven from the fort, forced down toward Federal 
Point, followed by a brigade of our troops ; and 
about 12 o clock at night Gen. Whiting surrendered 
himself and his command to Gen. Terry uncon 
ditionally as prisoners of war, numbering over 1,800, 
the remainder of his force being killed and wounded. 

Our loss was not accurately ascertained on Mon 
day afternoon, but was estimated at between seven 
and eight hundred in killed and wounded, beside 
the naval loss, which was slight, not exceeding one 
hundred killed and wounded. Not a ship or a 
transport was lost. 

Col. Curtis was severely but not mortally wound 
ed. Col. Bell died of his wounds Monday morning. 
Col. J. W. Moore and Lieut. Col. Lyman were killed. 
Col. Pennypacker was badly wounded, also Lieut. 



320 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

Col. Coan. A complete list of the killed and 
wounded will be forwarded as soon as it can be pre 
pared. 

Gen. Leroy reported to Surgeon General Barnes 
that he had ample provision of surgeons, nurses and 
hospital supplies for the wounded. They will be 
sent north to their respective states as fast as they 
can be placed on transports, of which there was 
ample supply. 

On Monday morning, between 6 and 7 o clock, 
the magazine of Fort Fisher exploded, killing and 
wounding two or three hundred persons. 

After the capture of the fort all the troops were 
withdrawn, except one brigade left in charge of the 
works. 

How the explosion occurred was not known, but 
Gen. Terry believed it was occasioned by accident 
or neglect. 

Gen. Hoke s division, reported at five thousand, 
was at Wilmington. A portion of it was thrown 
into the fort not long before the assault, and while 
that was going on a demonstration was made by 
General Hoke against our defensive, but it was found 
too strong for anything more than a skirmishing 
attack. 

About 11 o clock on Monday morning, a heavy 
cloud of smoke was observed over Fort Smith, on 
the south side of New Inlet. The naval officer 
commanding that station reported that the enemy 
had fired their barracks, and evacuated that fort. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 321 

You will be pleased to know that perfect harmony 
and concert of action existed between the land and 
naval forces ; and their respective commanders, 
Admiral Porter and General Terry, vied in their 
commendation each of the other. Each seemed 
more anxious to do justice to the other than to claim 
anything for himself, and they united in the highest 
commendation of the naval and military officers, 
and the forces engaged. To this harmony of feel 
ing, and the confident spirit inspired, may, perhaps 
be attributed, in some degree, the success of our 
attack, with nearly equal numbers, against a resolute 
enemy, in a work unsurpassed, if ever equaled, in 
strength, and which General Beauregard, a few 
days before, pronounced impregnable. The arma 
ment of the fort was 72 guns, some of large calibre 
and rifled, and one Armstrong gun. The troops in 
the fort had rations for sixteen days. Their loss in 
killed and wounded was between 400 and 500. Gen. 
Whiting had three wounds in the thigh. Col. Lamb 
also who had gone into the fort with reinforce 
ments, and to relieve General Whiting on Sunday, 
was wounded. On Monday everything was quiet as 
a Sabbath day. The dead were being buried, and 
the wounded collected and placed in transports and 
field hospitals. 

EDWIN" M. STAOT(OT, 

Secretary of War. 



322 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

REPORT OF ADMIRAL PORTER. 

UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MALVERN, ) 
OFF FORT FISHER, Jan. 15, 1865. / 

SIR : I have the honor to inform you that we have 
possession of Fort Fisher, and that the fall of the 
surrounding works will soon follow. 

As I informed you in my last, we had commenced 
operations with the iron vessels, which bombarded 
while we landed the troops. On the 14th I ordered 
all the vessels carrying 11 inch guns to bombard 
with the Ironsides, the Brooklyn taking the lead. 
By sunset the fort was reduced to a pulp. Every 
gun was silenced by being injured or covered up 
with earth, so that they would not work. 

On the 19th Gen. Terry and myself arranged for 
the assault, and I ordered 1,400 sailors and marines 
to participate. At daylight the iron vessels, the 
Brooklyn and the 11 inch gun-boats commenced 
battering the work, while the troops made a lodg 
ment within 150 yards of the fort. At 10 o clock 
all the vessels steamed in and took their stations, 
opening a heavy fire, which was kept up until 3 p. 
M., when the signal was made to assault, the soldiers 
taking the land side, the sailors the sea face, and 
the ships changing, but not stopping, their fire to 
other works. 

The rebels met us with a courage worthy of a 
better cause, and fought desperately. About thirty 
of the sailors and officers succeeded in getting to 
the top of the parapet, amid a murderous fire of 
grape, canister and musketry. They had planted 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 323 

the flag there, but were swept away in a moment. 
Others tried to get up the steep pancopee. The 
marines could have cleared the parapet by keeping 
up a steady fire, but they failed to do so, and the 
sailors were repulsed. Many a gallant fellow fell, 
trying to emulate their brothers-in-arms who were 
fighting to obtain an entrance on the north-east 
angle, as it appears on our charts. The enemy mis 
took the seamen s attack for that of the main body 
of troops, and opposed a most vigorous resistance 
there. But I witnessed it all, and I think the ma 
rines could have made the assault successful. 

In the meantime our gallant soldiers had gained 
a foothold on the north-east corner of the fort, 
fighting like lions, and contesting every inch of the 
ground. The Ironsides and monitors kept storming 
their shells into the traverses not occupied by our 
men, but still held by the rebels. In this way our 
troops fought from traverse to traverse from 3 
o clock in the afternoon until 10 at night, when the 
joyful tidings were signaled to the fleet. We 
stopped our fire, and gave them three of the heart 
iest cheers I ever heard. 

It has been the most terrific struggle I ever saw, 
and there was very much hard labor. The troops 
have covered themselves with glory, and Gen. Terry 
is my " beau ideal" of a soldier and a general ; and 
his cooperation has been most harmonious, and I 
think the general will do the navy the justice to 
say that this time, at least, " we substantially injured 
the fort as a defensive work." Gen. Terry had only 



324 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

a few more troops than we had on the last occasion, 
when the enemy had only 100 men in the works. 
This time the works were fully manned, and con 
tained about 800 men at the time of the assault. 

It is a matter of great regret to me to see my gal 
lant officers and men so cut up, but I was unwilling 
to let the troops undertake the capture of the works 
without the navy sharing with them the peril 
all were anxious to undergo, and we should have 
had the honor of meeting our brothers-in-arms 
on the works, had the sailors been properly sup 
ported. 

We have lost about 200 in killed and wounded, 
among them some gallant officers. I regret to an 
nounce the death of Lt. S. "W. Preston and Lt. 
B. II. Porter. They were both captured together 
in the attack on Fort Surnter, and died together 
in endeavoring to pull down the flag that has so 
long flaunted in our faces. Lieut. R. II. Lamson 
was severely wounded. lie was lately associated 
with Lieut. Preston in his perilous adventure on 
the powder-boat. Lieut. George M. Bache and a 
number of others were wounded, the former not 
dangerously. 

The assault only took place a few hours ago, and 
I am unable to inform you of our casualties. They 
were quite severe from the assault but we had no 
casualties from the enemy s cannon. 

Knowing the impatience of the department to 
receive news from Fort Fisher, I have written these 
few hurried lines. No one can conceive what the 



THE IKON HEARTED REGIMENT. 325 

army and navy have gone through to achieve this 
victory, which should have heen ours on Christmas 
day without the loss of a dozen men. This has 
been a day of terrific struggle, and is not surpassed 
by any event of the war. We are all worn out 
nearly, and you must excuse this brief and unsatis- 
isfactory account. I will write fully by the Santiago 
de Cuba which goes north to-morrow to carry the 
wounded. 

Besides the men in Fort Fisher there were about 
500 in the upper forts, and a relief of about 1,500 
men was brought down by steamers this morning. 
So far, I believe, we have only captured the garri 
son of Fort Fisher. I don t suppose there ever was 
a work subjected to such a terrific bombardment, 
or where the approach of a fort was more altered. 
There is not a spot of earth about the fort that has 
not been torn up by our shells. 

I do not yet know the number of killed and 
wounded by our fire ; but one 15 inch shell alone 
pierced a bomb-proof, killing 16 and severely 
wounding 25. 

I presume we are in possession of all the forts, as 
Fort Fisher commands them all. It is so late now 
that I can learn nothing more until morning. 

I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant^ 

DAVID D. PORTER, Rear- Admiral. 
Hon. Gideon Wells, Secretary of the Navy, Wash 
ington, D. C. 



28 



326 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

COMPLIMENTS TO WORTHY OFFICERS. 
[From the Palmetto Herald. } 

Lieut. M. McMartin, Quartermaster, and Lieut, 
H. S. Sanford, Adjutant of the 115th K Y. Volun 
teers, were handsomely used by their regiment to 
day. To each was given a fine horse, with equip 
ments. The gifts were presented by Major Wai- 
rath, who, in an eloquent manner, recited the 
merits of the officers and of the regiment whose 
efficiency they had contributed greatly to sustain. 
Appropriate responses were made, and a " sociable " 
this evening is to wind up the affair. 

A SKIRMISH AT PILATKA, FLORIDA. 

[Correspondence of the Palmetto Uerald.~\ 

We had a skirmish with the rebels here on Mon 
day, the 21st, in which the enemy, who made an 
attack in force upon our pickets, was repulsed and 
driven in full retreat. Between a hundred and 
fifty and two hundred of the rebels made a dash 
upon our mounted pickets on the right, compris 
ing a portion of the 115th New York, driving them 
in a little way. A portion of the same force then 
passed our centre and went to our left, where our 
outposts were also attacked. The enemy fought 
dastardly, firing from behind the trees; but not 
withstanding this advantage, our own men being in 
the open space, the rebels were driven back in con 
fusion, and taking to their horses made the best 
escape they could. In the fight, which was of very 
brief duration, not one of our own men was hit. 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 327 

One of our officers, however, asserts that a rebel 
officer, mounted on a magnificent grey horse, was 
seen to fall after one of our volleys. 

The Ottawa, Lieutenant-Commander Breese, 
fired over the town during the engagement, and 
one or two of her shells hurst prematurely, the frag 
ments falling among our lines, happily doing no 
injury. 

THE FEARLESS SHARPSHOOTER. 

The 13th Indiana Regiment in our brigade (the 
3d), probably fought more battles than any regiment 
in the 10th Army Corps, and were celebrated all 
through the army for their bravery and splendid 
fighting qualities. Being reduced to a battalion, 
they were armed with seven shooters and organized 
as sharpshooters. 

Frequently they acted as skirmishers during a 
battle, and while in front of Petersburg they took 
positions behind stumps, trees, and breastworks, 
doing great execution. 

At one point in front of Petersburg, where a 
squad of the Indiana boys were watching the move 
ments of the enemy, one after another of their num 
ber were rapidly shot dead, and the survivors could 
form no idea where the fatal bullets came from. 

Finally, one of the regiment far more daring and 
shrewd than the rest, declared that he would take 
his position in the fatal spot, and find out the author 
of the bloody work, if it cost him his life. So with 
a select party of his comrades, he repaired to the 



328 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

place, and began eagerly watching the rebel lines. 
For three or four hours all was quiet, but at last a 
negro was observed walking leisurely along the 
works of the enemy. He carried in his arms a long 
fence rail which he carelessly threw across the sand 
bags in front of him, and then suddenly disappeared 
from view. In a moment the crack of a rifle was 
heard, and one of the Indiana boys fell over dead, 
being shot through the forehead. Our hero now 
concluded that the negro was a black rebel, that he 
was the man who had played such dreadful havoc 
among his comrades, and that the harmless looking 
fence rail contained a murderous gun. 

He kept a sharp look-out and presently saw the 
negro aiming the fence rail at him. So he drew up 
his trusty rifle, aimed quickly, pulled the trigger, 
and two rifles cracked at the same time. The cham 
pion of the fence rail fell over dead, and the Indiana 
boy received a slight wound in the scalp. No more 
of our men were picked off in that way, and the 
rebel scould not play the same game on them again. 
The day following the occurrence noted above, the 
Indiana soldier took his position in a tree top, and 
picked off four rebels with ease. 

One evening he came up where the 115th lay, 
and gave them an exhibition of his skill as a work 
man. The regimental flag was strapped to a post, 
on the breastworks, and all day the rebel sharp 
shooters and skirmishers had been trying to cut it 
down, and towards evening they opened an embra 
sure in a fort opposite, and began throwing cannon 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 329 

balls. The Indiana sharpshooter stepped up and 
said : "Boys, they are trying to cut down your flag, 
are they? just let me get up to the works, and I ll 
shut up their music for a while." The rebel embra 
sure was one mile distant, but " Indiana" took aim, 
fired, and to the surprise of all, the ball entered the 
hole, causing several rebel heads to disappear in an 
amazingly short space of time. He fired five times 
in succession, and put four of the five shots in the 
embrasure, and the Johnnies not liking such sharp 
practice, ceased firing, and nothing more was heard 
of that cannon for several days. 

The next evening "Indiana," accompanied by a 
friend from his regiment, proceeded to walk boldly 
in front of the rebel line of works, keeping in In 
dian file. Of course the rebels began to shoot at 
them, and pretty soon a spiteful bullet came scream 
ing through the air, wounding each through the 
leg badly. " Indiana s " comrade was naturally dis 
posed to limp but was soon led to change his mind. 
" If you limp I ll knock your brains out with the 
butt of my gun," thundered Indiana in a tone of 
deep earnestness. " Forward, March ! Don t 
let the sneaking traitors know you are wounded," 
he continued. Both marched boldly to our works, 
and on reaching there safely, sank down exhausted 
from the loss of blood. They both laughed, and 
joked, and shook hands over the furlough they ex 
pected to get, and declared they would never enter 
the door of a hospital. Indiana was warlike still, 
and asked to be helped up to the works that he 



330 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

might give the Johnnies his pointed respects. 
After he had done that, he showed us his many 
wounds. He had a bullet wound in the right leg, 
a sabre cut across the right shoulder, a deep bayo 
net thrust in the left side, and a sore wound in the 
head beside the one received in the leg at the time. 
He fought in the Mexican war, and took part in 
forty battles in this one. When the stretcher ar 
rived to convey him to the hospital he refused to 
get on it, and the last that was seen of him he was 
limping to the rear, supported by a stick. 

A PLUCKY SOLDIER BOY. 

Private Frank E. Ritche, Co. I, and orderly for 
Col. Sammons, met with the following adventure 
in the state of Florida: 

One day he took a notion to ride out of camp a 
couple of miles for the purpose of viewing the 
country ; so arming himself with a rusty rebel 
sabre and mounting a horse, rode away into the 
swamp alone. Suddenly he found himself con 
fronted by three mounted rebels who were armed 
with shot guns. Frank resolved not to be cap 
tured, and putting on a bold front he drew out his 
rusty old sabre, and swinging it over his head with 
the air of a brigadier, turned partly around on his 
horse and yelled out at the top of his voice, " Come 
on boys, here they are! here they are!" thus giv 
ing the rebels to understand that his command was 
close by. He then commanded the rebels to sur 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 331 

render, at the same time raising his "toad sticker" 
in a threatening manner. Two of the chivalry 
instantly wheeled their horses and dashed off into 
the swamp at a break-neck pace. The third was 
disarmed by Frank before he had a chance to run, 
and together with his horse, gun and equipments, 
was soon safe in the camp of the 115th. 

The Union soldier was about 16 years of age. 

RATHER COOL. 

A soldier of the 115th had the following atten 
tion paid him by the rebels at Olustee : 

They shot away his gun and he picked up 
another. Hardly had he resumed firing when a 
second bullet penetrated his canteen sending it to 
the ground. In a little while a ball paralyzed his 
right shoulder. He then went to the rear and on 
examination found his wound not very severe, so 
he went back to the company and began firing 
at the enemy again. In a moment a ball grazed 
both legs just enough to start the blood, and 
another passed through the centre of one of his 
great toes making a very painful wound. He began 
to think it about time for him to go to the Tear for 
good, and started off, but unfortunately got among 
a party of rebels who demanded his surrender. 
He made motions to signify that he was wounded, 
and pretended to comply with their demands. But 
observing a good opportunity he started on a run, 
and although the rebels sent a volley of bullets 
after him, he managed to escape. Upon reaching 



332 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

the rear, he looked at his bleeding toe and damaged 
shoes, and then cooly remarked that he " did not 
care anything about the hole in his toe, but it was 
darn mean for the rebels to spoil his shoes." 

STATEMENTS OF PRISONERS. 

I was born in Waterford, Saratoga Co., ET. Y., Jan. 
24th, 1842, and enlisted in Co., H, 115th Regiment, 
Aug. 9th, 1862, as a private. At the battle of 
Olustee, Fla,, Feb. 20th, 1864, I was wounded 
through both thighs, the left leg, and the body ; 
and being unable to leave the field was taken priso 
ner by the enemy. I lay there from Saturday the 
20th until the following Wednesday night, before 
the rebels took me off. They then put me with six 
others in a rough wagon, and took us to Lake City, 
a distance of thirteen miles. From there, eighty 
of us all wounded, were taken one hundred and 
fifty miles to Tallahassee in a single cattle car. At 
Tallahassee we were placed in a church, had our 
wounds dressed for the first time, and received good 
treatment. 

On the llth of April I was furnished with one 
day s rations and sent to Andersonville, Ga., being 
five da} r s on the route, and only the single day s ra 
tions to eat. A rebel officer of the 4th Ga. cavalry, 
rode up to us as I lay wounded on the battle field, 
and observing one of my boots lying by my side, 
asked where the mate to that boot was. I replied 
that it was under my head. He then said " "When 
I come back I want them." As soon as he rode oft* 



THE IRON HEARTED KEGIMENT. 333 

I took my jack knife and cut both boots in pieces 
so he could not have them. After a short time 
he came back and asked for the boots. I said 
"there they lay," pointing to the pieces. He de 
clared he had a good mind to run me through with 
his sword. Rebel soldiers came up to me as I lay 
suffering, and stripped me of my overcoat, blanket, 
haversack and canteen, and left without saying a 
word. A private of the 4th Ga. cavalry came up, 
and observing a gold ring on my finger, asked me 
to let him see it. I dared not refuse, so I handed 
it to him, when he walked off with it. Thinking 
much of the ring I called to him to bring it back 
and I would give him a nice watch and chain. He 
promised to return it, so I handed over the watch, 
when he cooly walked off with both articles. For 
seven months I lay in that "hell upon earth" An- 
dersonville, withou tshelter, exposed to the weather, 
with no clothing except a pair of pants. I have 
frequently gone three days without receiving a 
mouthful of food, and my comrade Charles H. De- 
Graff, being too weak to walk up to the wagons, was 
refused his rations, and he soon starved to death, 
suffering like a dog. I was exchanged in Oct., 1864. 

G. D. COLE. 

G. D. H was taken prisoner at Deep Bottom, 

Ya., August 16th, 1864, and immediately placed 
under charge of a rebel guard. Soon after being 
captured he became very thirsty, and his guard con 
ducted him to a spring where he filled his canteen 



334 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

with water. As he was passing along he saw large 
piles of arms and legs which the rebel surgeons had 
amputated from their wounded. He was soon 
sent to Belle island, from there to Danville, N". C., 
and finally to Saulsbury. The last named place he 
says pen or speech cannot describe, as it contained 
so many loathsome and sickening horrors. The 
dreadful scenes enacted daily were of the most ap 
palling and heart-rending character. Of 10,000 
prisoners confined there, only 3,000 lived to come 
away, and the greater portion of those were in a 
dying condition, or were terribly emaciated by 
starvation, exposure and disease. The rebels stole 
his shoes, coat and blanket, and left him with only 
a pair of pants and a shirt. The rations were only 
a loaf of corn bread per day, barely enough to keep 
life in the body. The prisoners became so ravenous 
that they were more like wild beasts than human 
beings, and would snatch the bread out of each 
others mouths. He often awoke and found a dead 
man lying beside him. The difference between a 
man who owned a blanket and one who did not, 
was as great as between a rich man and a poor man 
here. The guards were old men and boys. The 
old men were generally kind to the prisoners, and 
in many cases Union men. The boys were blood 
thirsty and brutal, and would shoot a Yankee as 
soon as a dog. He was engaged in the attempt to 
escape from the horrors of the prison, but it was 
unsuccessful, and 80 of their number were swept 
down with grape and cannister. Three men lying 



THE IRON HEARTED EEGIMENT. 335 

quietly in their tents were killed. The fence was 
so high, and the men so weak, that the enclosure 
could not be forced. The rebels told all the catho 
lics to step out and they would give them good ra 
tions and a better camp five miles away. After 
reaching there they were coaxed and urged to enlist 
in the rebel army, but nearly all refused. 

While on his way to Wilmington he paid $50 
for a ham weighing three or four pounds, and 25 
for some corn bread which did not make a meal for 
two. The rebel guards paid freely $60 in rebel 
currency for $1 in greenbacks, and brass buttons 
sold readily for $5 each. Although never sick a 
day, yet he was reduced to a mere skeleton, and on 
being paroled could scarcely walk. He weighed 
180 pounds at the time he was captured and only 
80 pounds when he was released from the rebel 
prison. 

Sergt. Van Arnam, of Co. A, taken prisoner at 
Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 16th, 1864, and paroled in 
November, 1864, made the following statement on 
his return home : 

" I would say to the friends of these unfortunate 
prisoners that Belle island contains about five acres, 
and is enclosed by rifle pits, well guarded by home 
guards composed of old men and boys. 

"There are about 6,000 prisoners in this camp, four 
thousand of whom have a shelter from the sun, but 
affording little protection from rain. All receive 
rations twice a day ; at 10 A. M., one quarter of a loaf 
of wheat bread, which is sour, and a piece of bacon 



336 THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 

or fresh beef as large as your three fingers. Supper 
at 4 p. M. ; same amount and kind of bread, with 
one half-pint black bean soup, and occasionally in 
its place, for a variety, rice soup. The prisoners 
have no blankets, and sleep on the bare ground. 

A list of prisoners in the hands of the rebels from 
the 115th Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols., on Belle island, 
Ya. 

Lieut. C. K Ballou, Co. A. 

Corp. Fred. Putser, Co. I. 

Musicians I. A. Tripp, James Hale, Jesse Wood. 

Privates Thomas J. Henry, John Sherlock, 
Robert Baker, Lafayette Waterman, Frank Molter, 
Co. A ; F. Van Epps, Orrin Snell, Co. B ; William 
Colgrove, Frank Mallery, Co. D ; Wm. S. Young, 
Frank Lamb, Co. K 

Those who were paroled with me were Theodore 
Reckner, Co. A ; David Brower, Co. D ; Barney Mc- 
Guire, Co. I." 

J. W. VAN ARNAM, 
Sergt., Co. A, 115th K Y. S. V. 

CHESAPEAKE U. S. HOSPITAL. 

Sept. 29, 1864. Battle of Fort Gilmer. 

Sept. 30. Wounded begin to arrive from the 
army of the James. A hospital boat blew up in 
the river. 

Oct. 2. The surgeons are engaged in amputa 
ting limbs. Hospital boats are continually arriving 



THE IRON HEARTED REGIMENT. 337 

with wounded, and ambulances are rolling along 
night and day. The dead march is constantly 
Bounding in our ears. 

Oct. 3. Thirty-five officers and men buried from 
this hospital during twenty-four hours. A rebel 
captain died. 

Oct. 4. Several officers died from the effects of 
wounds. Their remains were placed in board coffins 
painted red. The coffins are covered with stars and 
stripes, then hauled to the grave-yard in the dead 
cart and buried by a squad of soldiers. 

Oct. 5. Several loads of dead soldiers put under 
the sod to day. Seven coffins are taken as a load. 

Oct. 6. More officers and a large number of sol 
diers died. Hundreds of recruits going to the front. 

Oct. 1. A constant stream of men going to 
Grant. 

Oet, 13. More wounded arrived. 

Oct. 14. Large numbers of wounded came in. 
Six hundred recruits went to the fort. 

Oct. 30. Fifty officers furloughed to make room 
for wounded. All enlisted men able to travel are 
allowed to go home. For seven months ending 
Nov. 1st, more than seventeen hundred (1,700) sol 
diers from the army of the James were buried from 
the II. S. general hospital, Fortress Monroe. 

Nov. 1. Nearly all patients in the hospital able 
to travel left for home so as to take part in the 
presidential election. 
29 



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